Be Aware Of Wage Laws In Your Home State

All too many workers in California are subjected to long hours for very little pay. Sadly, many do not even realize that their employers are operating outside the bounds of the law. Being aware of your rights when it comes to hourly wages and overtime pay is vital, no matter where you work. If you feel you are being underpaid, it may be time to take a stand.

In general, employees should not have to work more than eight hours in a given workday or in excess of 40 hours within a working week. If they do, the extra hours should be paid at the overtime rate. This means you should receive one and a half times your usual hourly wage for those extra hours.

However, it is not always this straightforward. For example, if you only work a three-day week, then your maximum daily working hours before overtime could be higher than eight. Equally, if your contracted hours for a week are below the 40-hour mark, then any hours worked in excess of the figure would count as work earning your regular pay rate while anything over 40 would be paid as overtime. Salary-based jobs are also subject to overtime laws although calculating what you are owed can be slightly trickier, as this article on overtime explains.

Fortunately, an attorney may be able to assist you. He or she can help you to evaluate what you are owed and whether your rights are being breached. Your attorney might even be able to support you if you decide to make a claim against your employer for the wages and fair treatment you deserve.

Tags:

fair wage, hour laws, overtime