Virginia Wage Theft Lawyers
Learn What Wage Theft Laws Are And How They Help You
Learn How to Get the Wages You Earned From Our Virginia Wage Theft Attorneys
It should be a simple process: you work hard and then receive the wages you earned from your employer. Yet, thousands of Virginia workers are the victims of wage theft each year.
That’s why you need to know the laws that protect you from wage theft in Virginia, regardless of who you are or where you were born. Let Zipin, Amster & Greenberg explain Virginia wage theft laws to help you receive every dollar that’s owed to you.
What Wage Theft Means for Virginia Workers
Put simply, wage theft occurs in Virginia when an employer doesn’t pay their employee what they earned. This includes not paying their full wage or not paying them at all.
Here are just some of the examples of wage theft that our lawyers have helped Virginia workers recover from:
- Not being paid minimum wage
- Not receiving tips earned
- Not being paid for all the hours worked
- Not receiving overtime pay for having worked more than 40 hours in a week
- Illegal deductions from a paycheck
- Not being paid a final wage after quitting or being terminated
- Not being paid for breaks which should have been paid
- Being misclassified as an independent contractor to avoid having to pay taxes, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation insurance, or overtime
- Receiving a paycheck that bounced
If you have experienced any of the above scenarios from a former or current Virginia employer, then it’s time to contact Zipin, Amster & Greenberg. Our lawyers know how to help you recover what you deserve after wage theft.
Is Wage Theft Illegal in Virginia?
Regardless of what some employers may say, wage theft is a crime in Virginia. The many laws against wage theft that protect Virginia workers ensure it is a crime.
In fact, there is even a specific protection against wage theft known as the Virginia Wage Theft Law. This law provides clearly defined protections for Virginia workers, allowing them to sue their past or present employers for unpaid wages.
There is also the Virginia Wage Payment Act (VWPA) that requires Virginia employers to pay all compensation owed to their employees in a timely manner. It also makes withholding any amount of an employee’s pay illegal without a written authorization to do so, taxes excluded. If an employer violates this act, the employee is authorized to file a suit against them.
Aside from the protections against wage theft provided by the state of Virginia, there are also federal protections that make wage theft illegal. These include the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that protects every worker’s right to receive their full wage from their employer.
Our Virginia wage theft attorneys fully understand all wage theft laws as well as how to use them to get you the compensation you deserve.
How and Why Do Virginia Workers Experience Wage Theft?
While most Virginia employers pay their employees what they are fully owed, there also continues to be a surprising number who commit wage theft each year. This is usually due to greed or a perceived position of power, thinking they can take advantage of an employee without consequences.
An example of this is an employer who tries to misclassify their employee as an independent contractor. This is often an attempt to evade having to pay taxes or other financial obligations required by the government.
Virginia employers may also misclassify workers in order to avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, Workers’ Compensation, or Unemployment Insurance programs.
Still other Virginia businesses think that because their workers are undocumented, they can take advantage of their vulnerable situation by not paying them fully or not paying them at all.
However, all of these situations constitute wage theft under Virginia law. Our wage theft attorneys are ready to put the full might of the legal system on your side if you experienced wage theft.
What Types of Virginia Workers Most Frequently Experience Wage Theft?
The most common victims of wage theft in Virginia are sadly those in positions of vulnerability. These include women, people of color, and immigrants.
Many of these wage theft victims work in industries where payments in cash are common. These include construction jobs, farms, restaurants, farms, hotels, warehouses, garment businesses, and nail salons.
However, any worker in Virginia can technically fall victim to an employer who doesn’t pay them what they’re owed. If you haven’t been paid the wages you earned, then let our Virginia wage theft lawyers help get you the justice you deserve.
How to Protect Yourself from Wage Theft in Virginia
The best protection against wage theft in Virginia is to know what it is, how it happens, and how you’re legally protected from it.
This includes knowing both Virginia’s laws and those of the federal government that protect workers whether they are a US citizen or an undocumented worker.
These state and federal protections ensure workers receive overtime and minimum wage, as well as other payments an employer may be obligated to provide. They also include protections from discrimination or retaliation that involve medical or religious rights.
Wage Theft Lawyers Who Get Results
The wage theft lawyers at Zipin, Amster & Greenberg fully understand what steps to take to win your case. Our experience using all of the legal protections for workers like you let us utilize the entire legal system to your advantage.
And to help our clients feel empowered instead of victimized, half of our lawyers speak Spanish, along with our entire staff. This enables you to fully understand everything surrounding your case.
Wage Theft Attorneys That Are Ready to Help You Win
We’re ready to examine the unique aspects of your case and develop a legal strategy to maximize the compensation owed to you.
Contact Our Virginia Wage Theft Lawyers Today
The wage theft lawyers at Zipin, Amster & Greenberg are ready to provide you with legal help.
Fill out our contact form or call us at 301-587-9373.
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