You have a right to be paid for all of the time that you work at a job. If you were not paid the wages that you earned or if your tips were withheld by an employer, you can file a wage theft claim. Your employer legally must pay you for the hours that you have worked. Wage theft in Connecticut is a crime.
Connecticut Wage Laws
When you work at a job the employer must pay you at least minimum wage. There is a Federal minimum wage and a state minimum wage in Connecticut. Connecticut minimum wage is $15.69 per hour, which is higher than the Federal minimum wage so employers must pay employees at least $15.69 per hour. By law employers must pay at least the higher of the two minimum wages.
Tipped Jobs
If your employer doesn’t pay you at least $15.69 you can file a claim for wage theft. If you work in a restaurant or in any tipped job the Connecticut minimum wage for tipped jobs is $6.38 for servers and $8.23 for bartenders. If you earn less than $15.69 per hour with tips your employer must make up the difference so that your total pay is at least $15.69 per hour.
Overtime
If you work more than 40 hours in a week your employer must pay you a rate of time and a half for all hours over 40 that you work. That includes quarter hours and half hours. All time over 40 hours must be paid at time and a half. If you were not paid overtime rate for overtime that you worked you may be able to file a claim for wage theft against your employer.
How To File A Connecticut Wage Theft Claim
In Connecticut you can file a complaint for wage theft against an employer at the Connecticut Department of Labor. You can file your complaint online, or you can download and print the complaint forms and send them in with your evidence.
If you’re going to file a complaint for wage theft against an employer in Connecticut, you should speak with an employment attorney first. An experienced employment lawyer can explain the complaint process to you and answer your questions. They can also help you understand what proof you need to support your claim.
What Do I Need When I File A Claim For Unpaid Wages In Connecticut?
You must include as much proof as possible with your complaint to prove that your employer hasn’t paid you what they owe you. You should include things like:
- Copies of your pay stubs
- Copies of your schedule
- The employee handbook or at least the section about pay
- Any emails, texts, or other correspondence from your employer about pay
- Any proof you have showing your tip amounts.
Speak With A Wage Theft Lawyer Helping Those In Connecticut
You can speak with a wage theft lawyer now who is available to help workers in Connecticut file wage theft claims. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation now to get connected with a practicing employment attorney who can answer your questions about filing a wage theft claim in Connecticut.
