Far too often employees accept their employer’s determination and decision that they are exempt employees who are not entitled to overtime. They work long hours believing (sometimes mistakenly) that they are not entitled to be paid overtime for their work. Other folks sometimes know that they are entitled to overtime pay but say nothing out of fear of retaliation. If you are in Southern California and are unsure about whether you are entitled to overtime compensation, contact an overtime lawyer in Los Angeles to find out your rights. If you find out that you are owed unpaid wages, an overtime lawyer can help you recover those wages. The law protects employees who make such claims.
Why Consult An Overtime Lawyer
Generally speaking, nonexempt employees in California are entitled to one and a half times their normal regular wage when they work more than eight hours a day or more than forty hours a week. This could increase to double the regular rate after 8 hours on the seventh day of the week or 12 hours on any workday. Of course, there are various laws, statutes, and wage orders that determine which sort of work is exempt and which isn’t. One of the first reasons why you may want to consult an overtime lawyer in Los Angeles is to figure out if you are exempt or nonexempt. The wage and hour laws are nuanced, and intricate, so an overtime lawyer familiar with the law can more readily help you make this determination.
Speak Up Without Fear of Retaliation
Finding a job you like is not always easy. If you are one of the lucky ones who enjoys your work you may find yourself hesitating to broach the topic of unpaid overtime. Happy employees may not want to risk “rocking the boat” by demanding unpaid overtime. An overtime lawyer in Los Angeles can guide you on how to approach your employer forcefully but diplomatically, and in such a way that avoids confrontation.
If it turns out that you have worked overtime hours without receiving overtime pay, you need not be scared to approach your employer. An overtime lawyer in Los Angeles will tell you that the law provides protection to employees who complain about or oppose what they reasonably believe to be a violation of the law. If you are bullied, harassed, or fired for complaining about not receiving overtime pay your employer may be liable to you, not only for the overtime you were denied, but also for retaliation. Do not delay. Consult an overtime lawyer to know your rights.
The first step in knowing and enforcing your rights is contacting an overtime lawyer, like Akopyan Law Firm A.P.C., which serves Burbank, Glendale, and Los Angeles. Click here to learn more.