Nurses play an essential role. Nurses work in medical centers, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, provide home health services, work in medical clinics, and work in schools, government settings, jails, prisons, and so forth.
Nurses undergo extensive training and must have hands-on experience and a variety of knowledge to do the job right.
They play a major role in the health of our communities. When you are hired as a nurse, you are told your age and your pay frequency.
Your family depends on your paycheck to cover living expenses. If you are a nurse who has received a late paycheck, you do have resources available to help you recover your earnings.
Late Paycheck Laws
There are federal laws that establish minimum wage, overtime, and other details about worker pay, but states set their own laws regarding pay frequency and so forth.
When you are hired as a nurse, you are told when to expect a paycheck. That pay period must coincide with the state laws where you are employed.
Some states require weekly pay, but others may allow bi-monthly or monthly wages. There may be some states that set different pay periods for different kinds of workers.
It is important that you review the details and laws that apply to paychecks where you are working as a nurse.
Here is a rundown of some of the different state paycheck laws and how they apply to late paychecks.
Late paycheck laws in Wyoming require that workers receive checks for their work semi-monthly.
Arkansas late paycheck laws also require semi-monthly paychecks. Late paycheck laws in Delaware allow monthly paychecks for workers.
The District of Columbia late paycheck laws call for semi-monthly payment of wages. Late paycheck laws in Idaho allow for monthly payments as do Kansas late paycheck laws.
You should always keep track of your time worked and your earnings. You should then regularly check to make sure that you are paid in a timely manner.
If you notice your paycheck is late, you should address the matter with your employer then follow proper protocol if it is not resolved.
Steps To Take If Your Paycheck Is Late As A Nurse
If you are a nurse whose paycheck is late, you need to know what to do. Always keep a paper trail so you have evidence should you need to file a claim.
You should keep your employee contract, your employee handbook, and any other supporting documentation, such as timecards and paystubs.
Your first step will be to speak with your employer if your paycheck is late. If it is an error, they will work to correct the problem and ensure you get paid what you are owed.
If they do not resolve the matter, you will need to file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division of your state.
The Wage and Hour Division will review the evidence and investigate, then they will talk with your employer to try to get the issue resolved.
If they find an ongoing pattern, or if they learn that the late paychecks were a blatant disregard for the law, they may choose to enforce harsh penalties against the employer.
If the matter still does not get resolved, you will need to file a lawsuit against your employer and ask to be compensated for your damages, including the wages that you are owed.
You do have a limited time to pursue a wage theft claim after a late paycheck as a nurse, so be sure to act quickly.
An employment law attorney will be able to help you through the claims process after you have suffered a late paycheck as a nurse.
Be sure to get everything in order, so you will have supporting evidence and you can prove what happened and how much you are owed.
Finding Help
If your paycheck is late as a nurse, you should enlist the help of an employment law attorney. Some employment law attorneys take cases on a contingency basis and are not paid until you win your claim, but there are some lawyers who require a retainer to be paid. Be sure to discuss payment plans before you advance matters with the lawyer.
You do have a limited amount of time to pursue a claim after a late paycheck, so do not delay the matter.
Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to share the details about your late paycheck as a nurse and so an attorney can help you determine the best way to proceed with your claim.
