Working any job means that you should be getting paid the wages you have earned, but that isn’t always the case. It is your right as a worker to be paid for the work that you do, but some businesses try to skirt that requirement and deprive employees of their hard-earned money. If your employer has failed to pay you all of the wages you have earned then you should contact an unpaid wages attorney for assistance. An unpaid wages attorney, like the experienced lawyers at the Akopyan Law Firm can help answer your questions and guide you through the process of recovering your wages.
How an Unpaid Wages Attorney Can Help
If you have been denied your full wages an unpaid wages attorney can help you get the proper compensation. An unpaid wages attorney can explain to you the legal requirements applicable to your job and attempt to resolve the dispute short of litigation. In the event your employer does not cooperate, an unpaid wages attorney can file and prosecute a wage action on your behalf, and recover the wages you are owed.
Where Will the Unpaid Wages Attorney File My Claim?
An employee seeking unpaid wages may pursue either administrative relief by filing a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner or judicial relief by filing an ordinary civil action against the employer. The employee may also sue under California’s Unfair Competition Law to recover unlawfully withheld wages as a restitutionary remedy. There are many different ways to move forward and an unpaid wages attorney can help you decide which method is best suited for your situation.
What Can I Recover in my Unpaid Wage Case
Many employees may be hesitant to prosecute a case if the amount they are owed is minimal. However even small claims may be worth pursuing because in addition to the unpaid wages, there are penalties that can be recovered. For example, if an employer “willfully” fails to pay wages when due to an employee who is discharged or quits, the employee’s wages continue at the same rate until paid or until suit is filed, but not for more than 30 days. This is what is commonly referred to as a waiting time penalty. There are many other penalties which can potentially increase the value of the claim. One of the most important reasons to hire an unpaid wages attorney is to make sure you seek and recover everything you are entitled to under the law. Having an unpaid wages attorney by your side can give you the best chance for maximum recovery.
Can I Afford an Unpaid Wages Attorney?
Unpaid wages attorneys will most often offer a complimentary evaluation for your case, so you can talk with them and they can look over your information so that you can preliminarily decide whether or not you want to proceed with a claim. If you have a situation where you believe you are being denied full wage compensation then contact either unpaid wages attorney at Akopyan Law today for a complimentary case evaluation.