Rhode Island has strict laws about how employers must pay their employees for hours worked. However, many employers violate these rules and fail to pay their workers properly, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
If you believe that your employer has wrongfully withheld your regular wages or overtime pay, you need to speak to a Lowell employment lawyer about your situation. Employers who violate wage and overtime laws can be held accountable and required to pay the full owed amount, plus additional compensation for other losses.
Contact Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard today to speak to a Lowell employment lawyer about your case.
Why You Should Work With an Employment Lawyer
Employment law, unfortunately, stacks the deck in favor of employers. Workers often don’t know their rights, and larger employers can afford expensive lawyers to protect them when they break the rules. Many workers also fear retaliation and losing their jobs if they speak out about wage and overtime violations.
An employment lawyer can level the playing field and ensure that your voice is heard. At Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, we have the resources to hold corporations accountable for violations and work to make you whole again. A lawyer can investigate labor violations, interview witnesses, and even represent you in a trial.
You deserve to be paid fairly, and employers who violate the rules should not get away with it. You can count on the team at DGP Law Firm to protect your rights and interests, no matter the case.
For a free legal consultation with a wage theft lawyer serving Lowell, call (860) 999-9394
Types of Wage Disputes in Rhode Island
Below are some of the most common types of wage law violations and disputes that we encounter in our practice. If you are not sure whether you have a case on your hands, you can consult with one of our wage theft and overtime disputes lawyers in Lowell.
Minimum Wage Violations
In Rhode Island, the minimum wage is set at $16.00 per hour. This is the lowest that an employee can pay an employee, with some exceptions for minor workers and certain positions. The minimum wage is set to increase to $17.00 per hour in 2027.
Minimum wage violations can include not paying the appropriate wage or making illegal deductions so that the total pay is less than minimum wage.
Withholding Overtime Pay
Non-exempt workers who work more than 40 hours in a week for an employer are entitled to receive overtime pay equal to 1.5 times their regular pay.
Workers are also entitled to 1.5 times overtime pay when working on Sundays and holidays. Common reasons for withholding overtime pay include inaccurate overtime calculations or not tracking overtime hours.
Inaccurate Timekeeping
Employers must keep a detailed track of the hours their employees work so they can pay them properly for time worked. Employers may try to get employees to work off the clock to avoid paying for hours.
Employers may also modify time entries to pay workers less (changing clock-in/out times, rounding minutes down, removing entries, etc.). More generally, employers can face penalties if they fail to keep accurate payroll hours and records.
Employee Misclassifications
There are specific rules about how to classify employees as exempt or non-exempt for the purposes of calculating overtime pay. Exempt employees receive a set salary regardless of the hours they work, so they generally cannot qualify for overtime pay. Employers may missclassify employees as exempt to avoid having to pay overtime wages.
Tipped Employee Wage Withholding
Tipped employees are exempt from minimum wage laws in Rhode Island and instead have a minimum wage of $3.89 per hour. However, employers must ensure that tipped employees receive at least the minimum wage if their tips and base pay don’t add up to equal or greater than the minimum wage of $16.00 per hour.
Lowell Wage Theft Lawyer Near Me (860) 999-9394
Compensation You Can Recover in a Wage Dispute Lawsuit
If your employer has illegally withheld regular or overtime pay from you, you can file a lawsuit against them to recover financial damages. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover money for:
- Back pay for all work you performed but were not properly compensated for
- Other employment compensation illegally withheld (e.g., PTO, sick time, etc.)
- Legal costs and attorneys fees
- Emotional distress that the employer’s conduct caused you
- Penalties to punish employers for violating wage laws
We can also file a complaint against your employee with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. A complaint can trigger a formal investigation, which could result in further sanctions or penalties for your employer.
Click to contact our Labor & Employment Lawyers in Lowell today
DGP Law Firm: Lowell Wage Theft & Overtime Pay Dispute Lawyer
The truth is that your employer may be underpaying you simply because they think they can get away with it. Don’t let them.
The team at Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard can be your legal advocate and help you secure fair compensation for the labor you performed. Contact our offices online or call today to speak to a Lowell wage theft & overtime pay dispute lawyer.
Call or text (860) 999-9394 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form