If you are a landscaper and you noticed that pay is lower than you expected, you could be suffering a form of wage theft. When you receive your paycheck, you should review all the deductions from your check.
If there are deductions that you do not recognize, it may be worth having your case reviewed by an employment law attorney.
You should speak with your employer’s human resources (HR) department, and if it is not resolved, then you should ask a legal expert for help. A lawyer can help you get your claim on track so you can recover your lost wages.
What To Look For
When you receive a paycheck, you will have a paystub. Your paystub is an itemized list of everything that has been taken out of your check.
There are several things you should look for when reviewing your paystub. Always carefully go over all the deductions and make sure they correct.
Here are some of the more common deductions taken from the paychecks of workers, such as landscapers:
- Taxes – taxes are deducted from earnings; this includes state and federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes
- Insurance – the portion of insurance premiums you pay can be deducted from your check; this includes medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
- Uniform/tools/equipment – as a landscaper, you may need uniforms, steel toe boots, and tools to get the job done; these costs can be taken from your check but they cannot make your wages fall below minimum wage
- Lodging and meals – if your job requires meals and lodging while you are away from home, those costs can be taken out of your check
If there are deductions that you do not recognize, it may be worth having your case reviewed by an attorney who handles employment law claims.
You should maintain documentation to support your claim, such as your employment contract, your employee handbook, your paystubs, your timecards, and other work-related documentation.
Court ordered deductions, such as garnishments, can be taken from your check but you should receive a written notification from your employer and/or the court warning you of the deductions.
You should keep your paystubs so you can compare them and see if the unauthorized deductions are an ongoing problem.
Even if your employer is taking out just a few extra dollars a week, it could add up to a significant amount over time. You should make sure the problem is addressed promptly.
If you wait too long, you cannot recover your lost wages and any damages that you suffered. It is imperative that you act promptly, so you can make sure your claim gets underway in a timely manner and that you recover your lost wages.
What To Do
If you notice unusual deductions from your paycheck, you should speak with your employer’s human resources (HR) department. The deductions could be a technical error or an honest mistake.
You will need to document what is said when you bring the matter to their attention. Did they apologize about the error? Did they say they would make changes? Did they pay you the difference?
Speak with an attorney who is an expert in wage theft claims. An attorney will be able to help you determine what your employer can legally deduct from your paycheck.
All the supporting evidence that you can gather will help make your claim stronger.
Your lawyer will also investigate and help you gather the key evidence that will strengthen your claim and prove that you suffered wage theft as a landscaper because your employer made illegal or unauthorized deductions from your paycheck.
There is a statute of limitations, or a time limit, for pursuing a wage theft claim against your employer. You do not want to wait until it is too late to recover your damages.
When you speak with a lawyer, you will want to discuss their payment options. Some lawyers will take cases on a contingency basis, which means the lawyer will not be paid until you win your claim.
There are some lawyers, however, who require a retainer to be paid in advance.
To get a free case review from an employment law attorney who handles wage theft claims in your area, complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page.
Now is the time to act. You should ask a legal expert for guidance as soon as you notice there is a discrepancy in your check and your deductions.
