If your employer fails to pay you wages when due, then what resources and remedies do you have available. The balance of this article will provide the information you need to ensure that you are paid for all of your hard work.
Talk to Your Employer
The first step in resolving the issue is to immediately talk to your employer. Fortunately, the majority of employers try to treat their employees fairly and it is quite possible that your failure to receive all wages due was simply a mistake. If you are afraid that your employer may act angrily when you raise the issue, several anti-retaliation statutes protect employees from termination and other adverse consequences if you complain or question issues regarding your unpaid wages in Chicago.
Track Your Wage History
If the issue was not resolved after speaking to your employer, then you may want to review your wage statements over the last several months. The wage statements must accurately and easily allow you to review gross and net wages, hours worked, and the applicable hourly rates. The employers’ failure to provide such a statement opens them up to substantial statutory penalties. Check your records to make sure that your employer has been paying all wages due throughout your employment. Take charge of your finances today and speak with an experienced employment law attorney if you have questions or do not understand the information contained in the statement. By keeping a close eye on your finances, you’ll have a better idea of what went wrong and how your employer can fix the issue immediately or suffer significant legal consequences.
Know your Options
If your employer’s failure to pay wages was not a mistake or promptly fixed, it is important to know your options. You can pursue a claim with the Chicago Labor Commissioner with or without the assistance of counsel. However, the remedies that you have available to you are potentially beyond the scope of the commissioner’s authority in terms of pursuing employment claims that are not wage-related. Furthermore, overtime and other wage-related issues can be quite complicated and vigorously contested by your employer for fear that your fellow employees will follow your lead. It is therefore highly recommended that you consult with an experienced employment law attorney such as Caffarelli & Associates Ltd. to get the help and compensation that you deserve.
Act Now
You are entitled to all wages when due. Failing to take prompt action does not hurt your employer and only serves to delay your family’s financial future. Contact Caffarelli & Associates Ltd. today for your free consultation and get all of the help you need.
