Perhaps you suspect your company does not pay you fair wages, but you cannot prove it. Even if the stolen wages amount to little, you deserve to know.

The Economic Policy Institute explores underhanded ways employers steal wages from workers. If any of the following sound familiar, you may have a legal case.

Minimum wage violations

While states have individual minimum wage requirements, employers must also pay employees according to local and federal mandates. Wage violations happen when employees receive less than the current hourly minimum wage rate. Companies must pay nonexempt employees who work weekly or earn a salary at a rate equal to an hourly rate of the current minimum rate. Another example of the violation is making hourly employees work without pay.

Salaried workers

Salaried employees who do not qualify for state overtime or the Fair Labor Standards Act should receive payment of at least 1.5 times their standard hourly wages if they work over 40 hours in a single week. Even though your employer may pay you for working overtime, you may face wage theft if you do not receive 1.5 times your regular pay for working over 40 hours.

Denials, deductions and illegal adjustments

Does your employer let you take meal breaks? Do you suspect your company illegally deducts money from your paycheck? Perhaps you think your company illegally adjusted your reported hours. Any situation could equal wage theft, even if it does not represent a minimum wage violation.

You deserve fair wages for every minute you work. By understanding how employers steal wages from workers, you have a better idea of whether you may be a wage theft victim. If you have questions about wage and hour laws, reach out to Manfred, APC today. Our wage and hour claim attorneys in San Diego are here to help employees out.