Request Legal Help Now - Free

Advertisement
LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Advice to Employers: Pay workers now rather than Later

. By
"Employers would be well advised to compensate their employees before they are taken to court," says Tom Emmitt, head litigation attorney at United Employees Law Group, PC.

"Employer's biggest fears are class action and individual lawsuits. We will take the employer to court and collect not only back wages and overtime owed, but a variety of penalties and in many cases, attorney fees," he adds. As well, California law in particular is favorable to the employee and tough on the employer. Here are a few tricks employers use to get around paying employees overtime and in the case of H-1B, even terminating their employment.

H-1B
The H-1B is a nonimmigrant classification used by foreign workers who will be employed temporarily in a specialty occupation. H-1B status requires a sponsoring U.S. employer.

"In my opinion, H-1B abuse is a trend on the rise - we see it all the time in California, generally in IT corporations," says Emmitt. "And we are seeing a growing number of class action lawsuits that involve the use of overseas workers at a reduced rate of pay."

A lot of companies are increasingly hiring workers from overseas. This gives employers two advantages:
  1. The opportunities in the US are greater here than in other countries and many overseas workers will settle for less remuneration.

  2. Many people come here with illegal status and are afraid to assert their rights. Even though their chances of deportation are minimal, they fear that complaining will lead to trouble. A lot of overseas and internet advertising alert overseas workers to job opportunities in the US. Potential overseas employees are unaware that they have put a US citizen's job in jeopardy and possibly got them fired.
"We are hearing about this trend from current and former IT employees who see it happening," says Emmitt. "They want to know their rights and the rights of their co-workers. Usually we hear about these incidents because a US worker is angry that he or she has been replaced by an overseas worker for a lesser salary."

Overtime
There are many ways that employers think they can get avoid having to pay overtime.

Every employer has a general idea of state and federal labor law and they know that employees are entitled to overtime. They don't want the cost of giving employee status and instead hire workers as independent contractors. You can call anyone an independent contractor but there is a legal standard. For instance, if you are told to work at certain times or on the company's equipment or login to their server, you may be an employee and entitled to overtime and other benefits. Nonetheless, many employers classify employees as independent contractors and pay them accordingly.

In so doing, independent contractors lose social security deductions and possibly health and retirement benefits (the employer wouldn't have to match medical and retirement plans). As well, an independent contractor has to pay self-employment taxes which are higher than taxes they would pay as an employee.

Another way of circumventing the labor code is to make the employee a manager. If you have the power to hire and fire and more than 50 percent of your time involves management duties, you may be exempt. However, if you cash out on the register every night or carry an over-ride key but spend 80 percent of your workday performing menial tasks, such as answering phones and filing you may not be classified as a manager under California law and therefore not exempt.

For many employees, it's scary when management basically says, 'Shut up and take your medicine or we can make a change here.' But the bottom line is that the employer is obligated to pay the employee appropriately, with the right classification.

Computer Programmers and Overtime
Computer programmers in California have to be paid in excess of $99,445 per year to be exempt from overtime. If you are a computer programmer and make less than this amount, you are non-exempt and entitled to be paid overtime. This California statute allows an employee to collect overtime for the four years previous. This particular threshold of pay is particular to computer programmers.

READ ABOUT THIS LAWSUIT

California Overtime Legal Help

If you work in California and you feel that you are owed overtime pay, please contact a lawyer involved in a possible [California Overtime Lawsuit] to review your case at no cost or obligation.

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
Buenas Noches,
Yo estaba en el horario pata trabajar mañana me llamaron y me dijeron que mañana no me presentara a trabajar. Yo acepte.
Mi pregunta es, es contra la ley? Deben de pagarme el día entero o
Medio dia, o no tengo derecho a ningún pago?
Gracias

Posted by

on
Hola buenas tardes mi queja es esta. Trabaje 3 días con un contratista lleve 2 personas y no me pagaron yo tuve que pagar de mi bolsa a esas 2 personas como le hago para cobrarle a esa persona

Posted by

on
Somos tres personas trabajamos en la levantada de pasas y ya tiene más de tres semanas que terminamos y el contratista no nos.a pagado aparte de eso Ami me debe horas trabajadas un domingo nos citó que nos iba a pagar y nos salió con 400 dólares la verdad se lo recibí porque no tenía como regresarme para mí casa y nos dijo que el nos iba apagar en la semana todo y hasta ahorita y nos habla y no nos contesta las llamadas levantamos 100 acres mi pregunta es puedo hacer un reclamó vivo en fresno c.a

Posted by

on
Si te presentas a tu trabajo y estas ahi de las 6 am a las 9. Y te dicen no van a trabajar y te mandan para tu casa tienen derecho de pa
Ga
Rte las horas que te tuvieron esperando paea ver si iban a trabajar

Posted by

on
Tengo 25 años trabajando en un dennys y casi nunca me dan mi descanso de 30 minutos que podemos hacer gracias

Posted by

on
Yo quiero saber si usedes mepueden ayudar soy plomero pero mi patron no me a querido pagar solo me a dado unas cuantas veces de 200 y 100 dolares y y pues ya le e hecho muchos trabajos y nada no veo mi pago necesito dinero para comer pero este viejo no me paga que puedo hacer en este caso para acabarla los trabajos que yo e hecho se los viene dejando a. Otro so lo que yo deveria de ganar se lo gana otro que no a hecho ni el underground que yo ise me lleve tres noches y tres dias para acabar un trabajo que el necesitaba y a mi no me a pagado que puedo hacer.

Posted by

on
Puedo demandar a mijefe k paga en efectivo yo trabajaba en tijuana pero me toko llevar unas puertas a chicago usa i el tiempo k dure un mes sin paga. Les digo k me paguen i diseño k no los puedo demandar y kno meban apagar k se puede aser en este caso

Posted by

on
lo uniko ke conseguimos hablando con el abogado...fuequedamos sin trabajo....ya paso mucho tiempo y de la resolucion de mi caso NADA,..

ADD YOUR COMMENT ON THIS STORY

Please read our comment guidelines before posting.


Note: Your name will be published with your comment.


Your email will only be used if a response is needed.

Are you the defendant or a subject matter expert on this topic with an opposing viewpoint? We'd love to hear your comments here as well, or if you'd like to contact us for an interview please submit your details here.


Click to learn more about LawyersandSettlements.com

Request Legal Help Now! - Free