Power plants pay a vital role in our daily lives. Our country and is people depend on the power plant workers to get the job done. If you are a power plant worker, you do have rights and protections. If you are the victim of wage theft as a power plant worker, you do have resources available. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets guidelines regarding wages, payments, and overtime. If an employer violates the FLSA, they can face harsh penalties and you must be compensated for your damages.
Wage theft is more common than you may think. There are billions of dollars in earned wages stolen from millions of American workers every year. If you have suffered wage theft, you will need to gather supporting evidence and documentation that shows what happened and how much you are owed. There is specific protocol to follow to get your claim on track and to recover your lost earnings.
How You May Suffer Wage Theft As A Power Plant Worker
Wage theft takes many forms and can happen in many ways. You should always maintain documentation of when you worked, any breaks, and other details. You should also pay close attention to your paystub to make sure that you are paid for all the time that you worked. If you notice a discrepancy, report it right away. You don’t want to wait too long or let become an ongoing problem where the dollar amount adds up.
When you suffer wage theft as a power plant worker, you only have 180 days from the date of the theft to pursue a claim. If you wait too long, you will not recover your losses. It is important to pay attention to each check and to make sure you are paid properly each paycheck. If you wait and realize this has been an ongoing problem, you may not be able to get all the wages that you lost.
Wage theft can occur in many ways. You may not be paid overtime for the hours that you worked in excess of 40 in a week. The law requires hours over 40 be paid at time and a half the regular wage for non-exempt workers. You may be asked to work longer days than scheduled, and then your employer may not pay you for all the time that you worked. You may be asked to work through breaks, and then not paid for that time. All those are examples of how a power plant worker could experience wage theft.
What To Do If You Experience Wage Theft As A Power Plant Worker
You will need to gather all your supporting documents, such as your employment contract, employee handbook, memos, copies of time sheets, records indicating breaks and so forth, statements from coworkers and witnesses, and copies of paystubs. The first step will be to file a complaint with your employer and let them know that you were not paid for all the time you worked, or that your paycheck was not right. Add up the totals and let them know how much you are owed.
You will need to maintain proof that you filed this complaint with your employer. Also, maintain documentation that shows you filed a complaint with your employer and notified them of the discrepancies. Maintain documentation from your employer that shows their response. If they don’t successfully resolve the matter, you should then take your evidence and file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division.
The Wage and Hour Division will review the details and investigate your claim. They will work with your employer to have them compensate you what you are owed. If they cannot get the matter resolved, then they will suggest you take the last step and file a lawsuit against your employer for their wrongdoing. You will want to make sure you ask for the lost wages, interest and fees, and any other damages that you suffered because of this behavior.
Enlist The Help Of An Employment Law Attorney
If you are a power plant employee who has suffered wage theft, you should enlist the help of an employment law attorney who handles wage theft claims. While some wage theft lawyers take cases on a contingency basis, some do require a retainer upfront. Be sure to go over the payment plan with your attorney. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to share your details with an employment law attorney.
