Minimum Wage
Paid below minimum wage? Your employer is stealing from you—we recover what you’re owed plus damages.
Know Your Rights to Minimum Wage
Federal and New York State law require that you be paid at least the minimum wage for every hour you work. The minimum wage varies depending on location, employer size, and industry, but one thing is constant: if your employer pays you less than minimum wage, that’s wage theft.
What Is a Minimum Wage Violation?
The minimum wage in New York isn’t a single number, it varies by location and, historically, by employer size. Right now, New York City’s minimum wage is $16.50 per hour. In other parts of New York, it’s lower, reflecting differences in cost of living
If you’re being paid less per hour than the rate required in your area, your employer is breaking the law. But minimum wage violations don’t only happen when someone is paid a low hourly rate, they can also occur in ways most people never think to question.
Why Flat Salaries Can Be a Problem
Here’s something many workers don’t realize: if you’re not an exempt employee, your salary must translate to at least minimum wage per hour, no matter what’s in your contract. Someone promised $600 a week who ends up working 70 hours hasn’t been paid minimum wage. That’s a violation, even if no one called it that.
New York's Unique Wage Landscape
New York’s minimum wage history is a little complex: different thresholds have applied to different parts of the state and different sizes of employers. That complexity is exactly what employers sometimes use to shortchange workers. We know the specifics cold.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is minimum wage?
Minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate an employer can legally pay a covered employee. Some states and cities have higher minimum wages than the federal minimum wage.
What does a minimum wage violation lawyer do?
We audit your employer's actual pay practices against the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state law. We unearth systemic violations like illegal deductions, forcing you to work through unpaid breaks, or failing to pay the higher state-mandated minimum wage.
Can my employer deduct money from my paycheck?
Some deductions are legal, but others are not. Employers generally cannot make deductions that bring your pay below minimum wage or take unauthorized amounts for business expenses, mistakes, uniforms, or shortages.
Is it illegal for my employer not to give me paystubs?
In many states, including New York and New Jersey, employers are required to provide wage statements or paystubs with specific information. Failure to provide proper wage statements may violate state wage laws.
What should I do if my employer pays me in cash?
Cash payment is not illegal by itself. However, your employer must still follow wage laws, including minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements.
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