New Port Richey Wage and Hour Lawyer
If you work for hourly wages in Florida, it is important to make sure you are being paid fairly for your time and effort. Both federal laws and Florida labor law protect New Port Richey workers.
However, the rules and exceptions can often be complex, and you will need the assistance of an experienced New Port Richey wage and hour lawyer as a legal advocate looking out for your rights. An experienced personal injury attorney in New Port Richey can evaluate your case and build a claim accordingly.
Protections for Workers
One of the areas for which an experienced New Port Richey wage and hour lawyer can advise is which law – either state or federal – governs a particular labor issue. For some matters, Florida law is silent, and the federal law – including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – may apply.
In other situations, state law takes precedence. A skilled New Port Richey wage and hour attorney can analyze the facts of a particular case and determine which law is applicable and how this affects a worker’s rights.
Common Types of Wage and Hour Employment Matters
There are a number of different labor disputes that require the help of an experienced New Port Richey wage and hour lawyer. Some of the most common types of wage and hour issues that attorneys handle include but are not limited to:
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) compliance
- Overtime wages
- Hours worked
- Compensable time and wage payment
- Adequate mealtime and breaks
- Florida minimum wage
- Employment of minors and child labor standards
- Vacation and leave
- Sick pay, medical and family leave
- Holiday pay and leave
- Leave for voting and jury duty
- Severance benefits
- Unemployment benefits
- Unions and collective bargaining
- Employment contracts
- Discrimination
- Recordkeeping requirements
- Job training requirements
- Employment policies
Employer Penalties and Fines
Employers found guilty of violating fair labor standards, including those related to wage and hour matters, are liable for significant civil fines ranging from $166 for a Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violation, to $1,925 for a minimum wage or overtime violation, to $111,616 for repeated child labor violations that result in serious injury or death of the minor.
As a deterrent to future bad actions on the part of an employer, subsequent violations can bring about increasingly higher monetary penalties, especially when violations are found to be repeated and willful, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Contact a Lawyer
Employees have rights, but employers do not always have their employees’ best interest as their top priority. Worker rights are not always meaningful unless they can be enforced, and employers can be held accountable for their unfair employment practices.
No matter what kind of labor dispute you are having with your employer, a skilled New Port Richey wage and hour lawyer can work to protect your rights and make sure your hard work is not being taken advantage of.
Your experienced wage and hour attorney in New Port Richey can be by your side throughout the entire legal process, from initially filing a complaint to pursuing the case through to trial or hearing, if necessary.