If you are like most people in Oklahoma City, you work hard to make a living. You probably work overtime to earn your paycheck and help someone else build a successful business. While you put in endless hours toiling away, your boss is probably the one who makes the majority of the money and pays you only a small percentage of it every week.
While this is normally how things work, there are cases where an employer takes liberties when it comes to paying the employees. For instance, an employer might refuse to pay overtime, ask you to work off the clock or simply not pay you the rate you originally agreed to when you were hired.
Wage theft can be a major problem for employees, especially those who are commission-based or work in the service industry. In addition, employees who are eligible for certain reimbursement such as travel expenses are also at risk for wage theft. If you think your employer might be stealing from you, here are a few things you can do.
Get the details
If your check includes reimbursements for your out-of-pocket expenses related to work, you have the right to request a detailed itemization of the money you receive. You can also ask for the details about how your boss is calculating your paycheck if you feel that something is not right. If your employer refuses such a request, be sure to document the date of the refusal and save any copies that you received in writing.
Start documenting
Once you realize there might be a problem, it is time to start documenting everything. Write down every dollar you earn for every hour you work. Keep receipts from expenses your boss should reimburse you for. Be sure to document every conversation you have with your boss, human resources or anyone else you talk to about the issue.
Update your resume
If you are working for a company that is stealing your pay, you probably will not want to remain employed there much longer. Update your resume and begin looking for another job. Even if you think you can resolve the issue internally, it is a good idea to have an exit strategy in place in case the problem persists.
If you think you are a victim of wage theft, take the above steps to protect yourself. Furthermore, you might be able to take legal action against the company and receive the money you earned.