West Tampa Overtime and Wage Theft Lawyers

Wage theft can take many forms, and it is not always obvious to workers that certain business practices they may have viewed as acceptable are actually violations of their rights. However, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state law provide a differing array of protections for employees.

The most common types of wage theft in Tampa, a city known for its booming tourism, hospitality, finance, and healthcare industries, include:

Denial of Overtime: Not paying the overtime rate of time-and-a-half to non-exempt employees who work any hours over 40 per workweek — this is considered a denial of overtime.

Misclassification: Some employers will misclassify their employees as independent contractors, as opposed to bona fide employees, in order to avoid paying benefits and providing statutory protections, such as workers’ compensation, overtime, and more.

Working “Off-The-Clock”: Employers may ask workers to complete work before or after punching out, otherwise known as working “off-the-clock.” This is generally illegal. Any job duties performed by the worker, even small tasks such as cleaning up, must earn that worker compensation.

Illegal Deductions: Requiring an employee to reimburse an employer for shortages in the register, cover the cost of customers who walk out on their bills, and other subtractions from a worker’s paycheck that places their pay below the minimum wage are considered illegal deductions.

The FLSA also protects employees from retaliation when they file a formal complaint about their employer, whether that complaint involves wage theft, discrimination, or other workplace violations.

If your employer does retaliate against you after you have filed a formal complaint, our attorneys may be able to help you get justice and recover compensation.

Our overtime attorneys in West Tampa work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you will not pay any upfront costs or consultation fees. You will only pay a reasonable fee if your attorneys are successful at winning your case and recovering compensation. If we don’t win for you, we don’t get paid.

No one should go unpaid for their hard work. If you believe you are a victim of wage theft, our lawyers might be able to help. Fill out our free, no-risk case evaluation form today. You may be entitled to compensation.