Columbus, Ohio Lawyer Off-the-Clock Work
Employers are prohibited by both federal and state law from failing to properly pay their employees for all work performed, which includes any “off-the-clock” work. There are a number of situations where employers violate employees’ legal rights by requiring that they perform off the clock work that benefits the employer but failing to pay the employees for such work. A common example is a “working lunch” or where employees answer the phones or respond to emails while they are supposed to be on their lunch break if they are off the clock, or if their employer automatically deducts time for lunch each day. You can read more about improper lunch deductions on our Improper Deductions page.
Another common example where employers fail to properly pay for off the clock work is where hourly employees respond to work emails or after hours work phone calls but do not get paid for this time spent working. In other cases, employers refuse to pay employees for work performed outside of their normal scheduled shifts even though employers are still required by law to pay for such work performed. Our unpaid wages lawyers frequently represent hourly workers who are required to attend to work matters after normal business hours but are not paid for such work. If your employer is aware or should be aware that you are working off the clock, then you are entitled to be paid for all your off the clock hours worked.
Employers also violate federal and state wage and hour law by failing to pay employees for all time spent working in the following situations (among many others):
- working during unpaid or off the clock lunch
- traveling during the work day (such as from one work location or job site to another)
- emailing or making/receiving phone calls after hours or before your workday begins
- completing equipment inspections
- working before a scheduled shift time
- working after a scheduled shift time
- working from home
- working on the weekend
- setting up or breaking down equipment before or after your shift
- attending weekly/monthly company meetings
- attending daily shift meetings
- being “on call” on the weekend or after hours
- performing any other work that benefits your employer
The above are just a few examples of common violations where employers fail to pay employees for all “off-the-clock” work performed. In the event you are owed wages for off the clock work, which may include unpaid overtime, our Ohio off the clock lawyers can assist you with recovering what you are owed. We can also recover “liquidated” or “double” damages for you under the FLSA if the unpaid work was overtime. Liquidated or double damages are a penalty against employers for failing to properly pay overtime wages owed to employees. It allows an employee to demand payment of not only the unpaid overtime wages owed, but an additional payment of the same amount as “liquidated damages” or “double damages.” For example, if you are owed $10,000 in unpaid overtime wages, we can demand your employer pay $20,000 to also account for your right to recover liquidated damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act/FLSA. Additionally, you are protected from any retaliation by your employer if you choose to pursue an unpaid overtime wages case. Our Columbus unpaid wages and unpaid overtime attorney can explain all of your rights to overtime wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act/FLSA and how you are protected from retaliation by your employer.
If you believe you may have a claim for off the clock work or that your employer may have violated its obligations to pay you all wages owed for off the clock work, contact our Columbus off the clock work attorney today to discuss your legal rights. You may have a valid unpaid wages claim and speaking with an Ohio unpaid wages attorney will ensure you know your rights.
Callour Columbus Employment Lawyertoday at 614-787-4878 for your free and confidential consultation.
