Wage theft occurs when an employer fails to pay a worker for the time he or she has worked. In Arizona, employers are required to follow state and federal laws governing how much employees are paid and when they are to be paid.
If your employer has failed to properly pay you the wages you are owed, you may be entitled to take legal action and recover compensation. If you have any questions about filing a wage theft claim against your employer, contact our dedicated Phoenix employment law attorneys for a consultation.
As of Jan. 1 2017, the minimum wage in Arizona is $10 per hour. Although most employees in Arizona are entitled to pay equal to or greater than the state’s minimum wage, there are some exceptions.
The rights of tipped employees are slightly different than traditional workers. Tip-based workers, such as restaurant servers, are exempt from earning Arizona’s minimum wage. Instead, an employer can pay a lower hourly rate as long as workers are able to make enough in tips to bring their earnings up to the state’s minimum wage.
Additionally, Arizona’s minimum wage law does not apply to those who are employed by:
If your employer fails to compensate you at a rate equal to Arizona’s minimum wage, you may file an unpaid wage claim with the Industrial Commission’s Labor Department.
The FLSA states that employees who have worked more than 40 hours in one workweek should be paid an overtime rate of one and a half times their usual wage.
Unfortunately, many employees are uninformed or have misconceptions about overtime. This often results in employees not receiving the overtime pay they are guaranteed under the FLSA.
Most employees covered by the FLSA are entitled to overtime, including:
Employers are legally obligated by federal employment law to pay an employee for every hour he or she has worked.
However, it is up to each state to form its own laws regarding mandatory paid and unpaid break time for employees. This includes a bona fide break for meals or rest periods that the employee is not paid for. During this time, an employee must be free of all job-related duties. If an employee is required to work during a break period, he or she must be paid for this time.
In Arizona, small breaks lasting five to 20 minutes are considered to be part of the standard workday and will be paid for.
At Phillips Law Group, we are committed to helping victims of wage theft and will work diligently to pursue your claim and help recover the compensation you are owed.
Free consultation by phone. Call 602-222-222 or complete our Case Evaluation formtoday. No fees to start your case and no fees unless we win.