Maine Wage & Hour Claim Attorneys
Protecting Employee Rights in Wage and Hour Claims
You work hard and deserve to be compensated in accordance with the law for the time you spend away from your home and family. Wage and hour claims are complicated and it really pays to have a law firm that knows how to handle them.
The wage and hour claim lawyers at Reben Benjamin & March help employees throughout Maine recover their unpaid wages and commissions. Federal and state laws offer different protections. We know which laws cover you and how to maximize your recovery.
Wage and Hour Law Myths
Because the law is complicated, many employees do not know their rights. Here are some common examples of wage and hour myths shared by both employers and employees:
MYTH: I’m on salary so I’m not entitled to overtime pay.
FACT: You might be entitled to overtime and meal/rest breaks depending on the nature of your work. Your employer has the burden to prove that your job meets one of the enumerated statutory exemptions. The most common exemptions from overtime are the executive, administrative, and learned professional exemption.
MYTH: I quit/I was fired so I can’t sue for my unpaid wages.
FACT: You can. Your right to fair wages under the law does not depend on whether you are still working there or why you left. For example, if you were fired from a job that did not pay you minimum wage, you can still bring a lawsuit to recover the money your company legally owes you.
MYTH: Any money I get will be eaten up by legal fees.
FACT: Both federal and state wage and hour laws require your employer to pay your legal fees if you win. The reason is that you had to hire a lawyer to recover wages that were owed to you in the first place. If you don’t win, there is no fee.
Contact Our Employment Law Attorneys in Portland
Call us today if you think you are being underpaid at your job. Our Maine wage and hour claim lawyers will help you get the pay you deserve.
* The Best Lawyers in America® 2011. Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC