If you are a farmer and you noticed that your pay is lower than you expected, it could be a form of wage theft.
If there are any deductions that you do not recognize or that you did not authorize, it may be worth your time and effort to have your case reviewed by an employment law attorney.
You will need to speak with your employer’s HR department first, and if the issue is not resolved, you will need to advance your claim to the next level.
What To Look For
When you get your paycheck, you will have a paystub which includes an itemized list of everything that was taken out. It should provide a detailed insight of your deductions.
You should always check your deductions and review your paystub to determine if there are any discrepancies.
Here are a few things that you should look for when reviewing your paystub after being paid as a farmer:
- Taxes – state and federal taxes should be taken out of your pay
- Insurance – if you have insurance coverage through your employer, such as medical insurance, life insurance, vision, or dental insurance, your share of the premiums can be deducted
- Uniform/tools/equipment – any expenses for uniforms, tools, or equipment can be deducted from your check just so long as your pay does not end up dropping below minimum wage; as a farmer, you may need work boots, hats, jackets, winter gear, and so forth
- Lodging and meals – expenses related to lodging and meals can be deducted from your paycheck – as an example, you may have to stay somewhere while you are working on a farm that is a distance from your home
If there are any deductions that you do not recognize, you should address the issue with your employer.
When employers take out additional deductions that are not allowed or that are not authorized, your employer may be stealing your wages.
Your employer should have an HR department or a payroll representative who can review your concerns and check to see if mistakes were made regarding your payroll deductions as a farmer.
You should promptly address the issue because there is a statute of limitations for pursuing a claim against your employer and recouping compensation for your lost earnings and any damages you suffered.
If there are deductions that you do not recognize, you may benefit from consulting with an employment law attorney.
An attorney will be able to gather supporting evidence and review all the details of your claim to see if have suffered wage theft and have a reason to take legal action.
What To Do
If you realize that there are deductions from your paycheck that you do not recognize, you should speak with your employer’s human resources (HR) department.
There is the chance that there was a technical error, or it was an honest mistake. You want to give your employer the opportunity to correct any errors, so be sure to talk it over with the proper person as soon as you realize the problem.
You should note the response from HR. Did they say that they would make changes?
If they did not, you will need to gather supporting evidence and documentation, so you can speak with an attorney who is an expert in handling these kinds of cases.
Your attorney will be able to help you determine what deductions your employer can take from your paycheck.
You will need supporting evidence and documentation to prove you were the victim of wage theft.
You should gather your employee handbook, your employment contract, timecards, paystubs, and other work-related documentation to show what was taken out of your check, so you can add up your losses and prove that you were the victim of wage theft.
When you meet with an employment law attorney, discuss their payment plans. While there are employment law attorneys who take cases on a contingency basis and are not paid until the claim has been won, there are lawyers who require a retainer to be paid in advance.
There is a statute of limitations for pursuing a claim, so do not delay getting the help you need to pursue your wage theft claim after you notice unapproved deductions from your paycheck as a farmer.
To get your claim on the right track, complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page. You can share the details of your wage theft as a farmer with an employment law attorney who handles similar cases in your area.
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