Wage & Hour Claims
Every worker deserves to be paid fairly and fully for the work they do. Federal and state wage and hour laws establish important protections for employees, including the right to a minimum wage, the right to overtime pay, the right to take meal and rest breaks, and the right to receive all compensation that has been earned. Unfortunately, wage theft (which is the failure by employers to pay workers what they are legally owed) is one of the most widespread problems facing American workers today, and it affects people in virtually every industry and at every income level.
At Justly Prudent, we represent employees who have been denied their rightful compensation. Whether your employer failed to pay you overtime, misclassified you to avoid providing benefits, forced you to work off the clock, or stole your tips, our attorneys are here to help you recover what you are owed and hold your employer accountable. We handle wage and hour claims across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Florida, and Massachusetts, in both state and federal courts.
Contact us to discuss your specific wage and hour situation.
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Wage & Hour Practice Areas
Employee Misclassification
Some employers intentionally misclassify their workers as independent contractors rather than employees in order to avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, employment taxes, and providing benefits such as health insurance, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance. Misclassification is illegal, and workers who have been improperly classified as independent contractors may be entitled to recover unpaid wages, benefits, and other compensation they should have received as employees. Our firm helps misclassified workers understand their rights, and we pursue claims against employers who have avoided their legal obligations through improper classification. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and legal needs.
Minimum Wage Violations
The federal minimum wage sets a floor for how much an employer can pay its employees, and many states and local governments have enacted minimum wage rates that are even higher. Minimum wage violations occur when employers pay less than the legally required rate, make deductions from an employee's pay that bring their wages below the minimum, require employees to perform work before or after their shift without pay, or average an employee's pay across multiple workweeks to avoid paying the minimum in any single week. Our firm helps employees who have not been paid the minimum wage recover their unpaid wages and any additional damages they are entitled to under the law. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and legal needs.
Pay Equity & Wage Discrimination
Pay equity laws require employers to pay employees equally for performing substantially similar work, regardless of gender, race, or other protected characteristics. When employees performing the same job are paid differently based on a discriminatory factor rather than legitimate business reasons such as experience, education, or performance, the underpaid employees may have a legal claim for wage discrimination. Our firm represents employees who have experienced pay disparities based on discriminatory factors and works to secure equal pay and back wages under federal and state anti-discrimination and pay equity laws. Contact us to discuss your specific wage concern with a knowledgeable legal representative.
Unpaid Overtime
Federal law and most state laws require employers to pay non-exempt employees one and a half times their regular hourly rate for every hour worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. Despite this clear legal requirement, many employers avoid paying overtime by misclassifying employees as exempt, failing to count all hours worked, requiring off-the-clock work, or using other tactics to keep overtime hours off the books. Our firm represents employees who have been denied proper overtime compensation, and we work to recover every dollar that is owed, including back pay, liquidated damages, and attorney fees. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and legal needs.
Unlawful Deduction from Wages
Employers are generally prohibited from making deductions from an employee's paycheck that reduce the employee's pay below the minimum wage or that are not authorized by law or by the employee. Unlawful deductions can include charges for uniforms, tools, equipment, cash register shortages, breakage, or other business expenses that should be borne by the employer. We represent employees who have experienced illegal deductions from their wages and work to recover the amounts that were improperly withheld. Contact us today to discuss your specific situation and legal needs.
Commission & Bonus Disputes
Many employees earn a significant portion of their income through commissions, bonuses, and other incentive compensation. Disputes arise when employers refuse to pay commissions that have been earned, retroactively change commission structures to reduce payouts, terminate employees just before commissions become payable, or fail to honor promised bonus programs. Our attorneys represent employees who have been denied earned commissions and bonuses and work to recover the full amount of incentive compensation they are owed. Contact us today to discuss your specific commission or bonus issue.