If you’re an employee, your employer cannot legally withhold your wages or take any other type of payment from you. If this happens, you can sue your employer for not paying you correctly. In some cases, employees are not paid at all, and in others, the wages are understated to avoid taxes or other deductions. Employee rights are protected by laws that vary from state to state and industry to industry. Many factors need to be considered before suing an employer for not paying you correctly. If you’re an employee who has not been paid correctly, here’s what you need to know concerning whether or not you have a legal right to sue your employer and how much time you have left to do so under each set of circumstances.
Can I Sue My Employer For Not Paying Me Correctly?
Yes, you can sue your employer for not paying you correctly. In the United States, employees have a legal right to be paid for the work that they do. If your employer does not pay you correctly, you may be able to take legal action. There are a variety of legal actions that you can take if your employer does not pay you correctly. You may be able to sue your employer for back wages, damages, or both. You may also be able to take action through the court system or through an employee grievance process. If you are being harassed or discriminated against at work due to taking legal action against your employer, you may also be able to take legal action in that situation.
What Are Some Reasons Employers Don’t Pay Employees?
1. Employees Are Looking For More Than A Job.
Some employers have seen the unfortunate results of the Great Recession when people were willing to work for next to nothing just to put food on their tables. Some are battling the challenges of working with people who have low self-esteem because of past financial hardships. In other words, they’re dealing with people who come to work every day just to get a paycheck and aren’t really invested in the success of their company. And that’s not a situation that anyone wants. Employers are looking for people who are passionate about their work and want to learn new skills. They want people who want to advance in their careers and see their company as a long-term investment in their future. Employers want people who are excited about their mission and will go the extra mile to make it happen.
2. Employees Have Unrealistic Expectations.
There are many reasons why employers won’t pay employees, but at the top of the list is an unrealistic expectation of how much they’ll earn. Employers are more likely to offer an entry-level salary or a non-salaried position when they meet someone who expects more because they don’t want to disappoint them with a lower salary offer. Sometimes, unrealistic expectations come from a job seeker’s previous experience. For example, someone who has worked in sales for 10 years at a company that paid a $50,000 salary may expect a similar salary with a new employer, when in reality the new company may only be able to pay $30,000. Other times, the unrealistic expectations are the result of a job seeker’s lack of research into the salary range for their industry or knowledge of their value in the labor market. What’s a good salary for an engineer in the Denver area? What about a zoologist in Miami?
3. Employees Lack The Necessary Skills To Do Their Job.
There are a number of reasons why employers won’t pay employees, and one is that they don’t have the necessary skills to do their job. Employers want people who are excited about their work and want to contribute to the company’s success. However, they don’t want to take on employees who are just spinning their wheels, not knowing what they’re supposed to do. Sometimes, people who lack the right skills apply for jobs that go beyond their abilities, like workers in food trucks who want to be executive chefs. Other times, people lack the necessary skills and don’t even realize it. They may be overconfident in their abilities, or they may have been out of the workforce for a long time and forgotten what skills they need to do their job well.
4. Companies Don’t See Value In Employee Training Programs.
Employers who don’t pay employees are often looking for people who can come in and do their jobs right away. However, some employers do offer a training program with the expectation that employees will earn their wages through the value they bring to the company. Sometimes, employers don’t pay employees because they don’t have the money to pay them, but they’re willing to train people and pay them once they are trained. Other times, the employer is looking for top-notch talent and knows that the best people aren’t interested in training for low pay. If an employer doesn’t offer a training program, job seekers should ask about the opportunity for advancement, the company culture, and the company’s expectations for new hires.
5. Company Culture Is Incompatible With Employee Expectations.
Some employers won’t pay employees because the company culture doesn’t match what the job seekers are looking for. Is the company open to new ideas? Is it a friendly place to work, or is it more like a competitive sports team where people are always trying to outdo each other? Other times, employers are looking for people who want to help the company grow but who won’t disrupt the status quo. For example, an employer may be looking for a senior-level person to come in and shake things up, or they may be happy with the way things are and want to keep it that way. Job seekers can overcome the reasons why employers won’t pay employees by being prepared. Find out which skills the company is lacking and show them how you can help. Be clear about your expectations for the job and the company, and make sure they are realistic. And, finally, find out about the company culture before you apply for a job. If it’s not a good fit, don’t apply.
When You Have A Right To Sue For Not Being Paid Correctly?
- You can sue your employer for not being paid correctly if you have a written agreement that states you will be paid a certain amount for your work. If you do not have a written agreement stating the amount of money you will be paid for your work, you do not have the right to sue your employer for not paying you correctly.
- This is because there is no agreement stating the amount of money you will be paid. If you do have a written agreement stating the amount of money you will be paid, you can sue your employer for not paying you correctly if you have been working for them for at least two weeks.
- If you have been working for them for less than two weeks, you can still sue them, but you will only be able to collect back wages and liquidated damages. You cannot collect other types of damages in this situation.
When You Don’t Have A Right To Sue For Not Being Paid Correctly?
- If you do not have a written agreement stating the amount of money you will be paid and you have been working for your employer for less than two weeks, you do not have the right to sue your employer for not paying you correctly.
- In this case, you would need to find another way to get the wages you are owed. You could ask your employer for payment, or you could find another job where you are paid correctly.
- If your employer owes you a large amount of money and you have been working for them for less than two weeks, it may not be in your best interest to sue them.
- This is because they may have the money to pay you, but they are choosing not to. In this case, it may be more effective to find another job where you are paid correctly.
Conclusion
When you sign a contract to work for an employer, you are promising to do the work. In exchange for your work, the employer agrees to pay you a certain amount of money. If the employer does not pay you correctly, you have the right to sue them for it. When you sue your employer for not paying you correctly, you can collect back wages and liquidated damages, but only if you have been working for them for at least two weeks. If you have been working for them for less than two weeks, you can only collect back wages and liquidated damages.
