You don’t enjoy working overtime, but you do it. First off, you want to make a good impression on your boss and show how valuable you are to the company. Secondly, though, there’s the issue of money. It’s hard to turn down those extra hours when you know you’re going to make time and a half.
But what if you don’t? What if the company asks you to work the hours and then only pays you your normal wage or neglects to pay you for that extra time at all?
For one thing, you need to know when to stand up for your rights as a worker. If you’re not getting paid at all for time worked, or if you’re getting paid too little, that’s illegal. If you complain about it and you get fired, that’s a retaliatory firing, which could also be illegal.
We understand the pressure you feel to act in accordance with what the company wants, but you need to know that the law is on your side. You do have options. Even if you complain and your employer begins to pay you properly, you may still have a right to back pay. If this issue has gone on for weeks or months, you may have a lot of money that you were counting on. You’re still owed this money, even if that pay period is well behind you.
These situations do get complicated. Workers often feel like they can’t do anything because the company is in charge. This is not the case. Be sure you know exactly what options you have and what steps to take.
