The unfortunate reality is that many employers often utilize tactics to unfairly reduce the amount they pay their workers. These tactics, which are often unlawful, may include withholding overtime pay for workers who have earned it. Miscategorizing workers: An...
Wage And Hour/Overtime
U.S. companies commit wage theft on those who can least afford it
Workers in New York whose wages are at or just above minimum wage struggle every day to earn a living for themselves and their families. Things only get tougher when their employer commits wage theft against them. Unfortunately, this insidious practice is widespread...
New administration reapplies protections for gig workers
Employer misclassification of workers as independent contractors – rather than as employees – is a common phenomenon in the U.S. Contractors cost employers far less than employees, as under federal law independent contractors are not entitled to certain guaranteed...
Should I receive overtime pay for remote work?
In the last year, millions of New Yorkers have been working remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. A number of companies don’t plan to return to in-office work until the summer or fall of 2021. In the meantime, many employees have needed a more flexible...
New York protects voluntary wage transparency among employees
It is common knowledge that it is illegal to pay women less than men for equivalent work. The federal Equal Pay Act of 1963 is over fifty years old, but despite its ban on unequal wages between genders, an 18% wage differential still exists, explain the authors of a...
NY employers should take note of DOL “regular rate of pay” rules
Since Jan. 15, an updated U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulation has been in effect clarifying for employers which job benefits and perks to include in pay for purposes of calculating overtime due to nonexempt workers (usually hourly). The “regular rate of pay” is...
Are New York employers supposed to pay employees for time in voluntary training programs?
While this sounds like a straightforward question, the answer is that it depends. This matter is actually regulated in some detail under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its regulations – the main body of federal law governing wage-and-hour matters for...
Wage theft increases during recessions
A newly released study shows wage theft by employers grows significantly during troubled economic times, mirroring a rise in unemployment numbers. Women, people of color and noncitizens are the most likely targets. According to a paper released by the Washington...
Employers must diligently track employee hours during explosion of remote work
On August 24, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a news release announcing important guidelines clarifying the legal responsibilities of employers to track employees' remote work hours. COVID-19 has forced more employees...
5 common wage and hour violations
When you work hard for your employer, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. However, some employers don't pay employees fairly for their efforts, which happens more often than you may think. In 2019, the United States Department of Labor recovered more...
