Farmers have difficult jobs, and people around the world are dependent on them. Without farmers, we would not have access to healthy foods.
Many companies hire farmers to handle their needs. Farmers work for produce companies, meat producers, grocery chains, restaurants, and many other businesses.
Farmers require skill and hands-on training. If you are a farmer, you expect to get your regular paycheck so you can take care of your living expenses and support your family.
If you have not been paid as a farmer, you do have rights and resources. You may be able to pursue a wage theft claim against your employer.
Payday Requirements For Farmers
Many states have requirements regarding how often employees must be paid. These laws can vary greatly with some states requiring weekly pay, some requiring bi-weekly or semi-monthly checks, and others requiring monthly pay.
You need to review your employee handbook and employment contract then familiarize yourself with the state laws to make sure you are paid in a timely manner and that you are paid the wages that you are owed.
As an example, in Louisiana semi-monthly pay frequency applies to businesses that employ at least 10 employees that are engaged in mining, boring for oil, manufacturing, and public service corporation.
Employees must be paid at least twice a month. In Maine, employees must be paid at least once every 16 days.
In Maryland, employees must be paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly. Massachusetts requires either weekly or bi-weekly paychecks.
You need to maintain supporting evidence and documentation. That means keep your employee handbook and your employment contract.
Keep paystubs and copies of timecards or time sheets. Be sure to document everything and keep work-related memos and notices.
You should check your paycheck every time to ensure that you are paid for all the wages that you have earned. You should report any discrepancies right away, so they can be addressed.
What To Do If You Haven’t Been Paid As A Farmer
If you are a farmer who has not been paid by your employer in a timely manner, you will need to gather all the supporting evidence and documentation.
You should add up the total of your lost wages and determine the value of your claim.
You will want to make sure you claim all your lost wages, and that you add up all your damages so you can ask for them all to be reimbursed through your wage theft claim against your employer.
Your first step will be to file a complaint with your employer. You will need to talk with your supervisor or manager or with human resources. You will need to maintain documentation to show that you notified your employer.
Also, keep all correspondence from your employer regarding your wage theft claim or document everything that is said regarding your claim against them because you haven’t been paid as a farmer.
Documentation is essential to the success of your wage theft claim. If you don’t reach a satisfactory settlement, or if your complaint isn’t taken seriously, you will advance the process by filing a claim with the Labor Board.
The Labor Board will review your evidence and documentation, then they will address the issue with your employer.
They will tell the to pay you what you are owed. If the matter doesn’t get resolved on this level, you will be told to file a lawsuit against your employer for your lost wages and damages.
The court – either a judge or a jury – will then rule on your claim and determine if your employer owes you damages.
How a Lawyer Could Help
If you have not been paid as a farmer, you should consult with an employment law attorney who handles wage theft claims in your state.
An employment law attorney is familiar with the state and federal laws that apply to your situation. With help of an attorney, your likelihood of a successful claim will increase significantly.
When you speak with a wage theft attorney, be sure to discuss their payment methods.
Some employment law attorneys take claims on a contingency basis, which means that they will not get paid until you win your claim and recoup compensation for your damages.
Other lawyers will require a retainer to be paid up front. You do have a limited time to pursue a wage theft claim, so don’t wait until it is too late to recover compensation for your losses caused by you not being paid as a farmer.
