After decades of experience working for the benefit of employees, our firm has learned you should always trust your instincts. If you feel you’re being paid unfairly, check over your pay stubs, calculate the pay you should be receiving, and compare your findings with your current salary. If those do not match, you will want to confront your employer about the issue.
If they disregard your findings, fail to investigate the problem, or try to convince you that it’s the correct amount, you will want to speak with an unpaid wages attorney immediately. Unfortunately, many Virginia employees suffer from wage and pay violations but are unaware of their rights and do not pursue legal action. The Spiggle Law Firm will explain your rights and provide you with the best possible solution for your circumstances.
4 Ways to Tell If You’re Being Paid Unfairly
A 2021 study by One Fair Wage reports over 2.4 million workers suffer from wage theft annually. While many workers suffer from unlawful pay, a considerable amount fail to pursue legal action because they are unaware of their rights and options. If you are unsure about whether you are being paid fairly, consider the following:
Check Your Contract and Past Pay Stubs
A common violation many employees find themselves suffering from includes inaccurate payments for their work hours. You will want to evaluate your employment contract or documentation showing the correct amount your employer was supposed to pay you. Another way to do this is by checking previous pay stubs.
Responsibilities Increased Without a Raise
Some employers will try and push a larger workload onto you when a coworker leaves without paying you for the change in responsibilities and increased workload. When a company changes or increases your responsibilities and job tasks, you deserve to receive the proper payment for your work. Speak with your lawyer about how you may hold them accountable.
Absence of Performance Reviews
A major red flag for wage violations is when a company does not provide performance reviews or discussions about your workload. Performance reviews are ideal opportunities to discuss your salary, and if an employer fails to schedule a performance review, you may want to take the initiative and pursue a meeting with your manager.
Salary Does Not Reflect Others In the Same Position
Some employers will try to dissuade workers from discussing their salaries to try and prevent employees from finding out they’re underpaid. When others in the same position are making more than you, other types of employment law violations may be at play, including discrimination and retaliation. It’s crucial to discuss salaries with other coworkers you trust to ensure you are being paid fairly.
Wage violations are a serious issue many employees face. If you believe your employer is not paying you what you deserve, you may want to file an employment law claim. In Virginia, employees have three years from the date of when their employer should have paid them to file a claim. However, if other types of employment law issues are involved – such as discrimination or sexual harassment – you may have more or less time to file. Speak with your lawyer about the timeline your case falls under.
Contact Attorney Tom Spiggle for an Experienced Employment Lawyer Today
Our team at The Spiggle Law Firm understands how stressful it is when your employer does not pay you the amount you rightfully deserve. Many positions require extensive schooling, training, and certifications to perform the job tasks properly. When your employer does not pay you what you deserve, they disrespect your time and qualifications.
Tom Spiggle founded our firm in 2009 on the principle of protecting and advocating for those within our community. With years of experience guiding people through complex legal situations, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We treat our clients with dignity and protect their rights from unfair treatment. Speak with a team member today by completing our contact form or calling (202) 449-8527.
