If you are a mechanic, you work hard for your money. You have undergone training and you have probably taken classes to get the background and skills that you need to do the job right. When you take a job as a mechanic, you expect to be paid an hourly wage. You will need to maintain a paper trail that includes your employee contract, paperwork indicating your hourly wages and work description, and the employee handbook.
Most mechanics work for an hourly rate, and most employers that hire mechanics fall under the guidance of the FLSA or state employment laws.
That means that your employer must pay you at least minimum wage and you must receive overtime for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. If you are not paid what you are entitled to receive, you are a victim of wage theft.
How A Mechanic Could Suffer Wage Theft
If you are a mechanic, you should keep track of your time worked and your earned wages. You should then compare that total with the actual pay you receive.
You may not be paid for all the hours you worked, you may not be paid the agreed rate, or you may not be paid the overtime you are entitled to receive. You could have deductions from your check that should not have been taken out either.
As an example, you worked overtime to try to get an engine install and upgrade done for a customer. You worked 52 hours last week.
Your regular hourly rate is $20 per hour. So, you should receive $20 per hour for the first 40 hours, which totals $800. For the remaining 12 hours you should receive one-and-a-half your regular rate of pay, which would be 20 x 1.5, which is $30. You would have 12 hours at $30 per hour. Your total wages for the week should be $800 plus $360 totaling $1,160.
When you received your paycheck, it was only for $1,040. You were not paid overtime for the hours in excess of 40 worked. Instead, you were only paid the regular rate of $20 per hour for every hour that you worked.
You will need to notify your manager or human resources department, if it was an honest mistake or oversight, they will work to fix the problem and ensure you are paid the wages that you were shorted. If they say they don’t pay overtime, you will have to file a formal complaint with the Labor Board and ask them to review the matter.
What To Do If Experiencing Wage Theft As A Mechanic
If you are a mechanic who suffered wage theft, you will need to file a complaint. You will need supporting documentation to show that you were the victim of wage theft, how much you were shorted from your pay, and what action you took to notify your employer.
You will need to document your employer’s response, or lack to respond, so you can show that you tried to resolve the matter but your request either was denied or didn’t get resolved to your satisfaction.
Because wage theft claims are complicated, you may want to enlist the help of an employment lawyer. These attorneys are familiar with both state and federal employment laws and will know the best way to proceed with your claim.
If you are the victim of wage theft, odds are that your employer has done the same to other employees or will do the same thing again in the future. Your action could help others who are in a similar situation or could prevent similar behavior in the future.
How An Employment Lawyer Could Help
If you have been the victim of wage theft, you should enlist the help f a lawyer who will look out for your rights. An employment law attorney will be able to proceed with your claim, gather supporting evidence and see that you are treated fairly throughout the claims process.
Your lawyer will work to see that you recover the wages you were entitled to receive and any other damages that you are entitled to recover.
Time is limited to recover your damages through a claim. If you wait too long, you will miss out. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to share your details with an employment law attorney who handles wage theft claims in your area.
