Unpaid Wages Lawyers in Bellevue, WA: Get What You're Owed

Has your employer intentionally withheld your pay? If so, your rights as an employee have been violated. Employers are required to pay your wages within a specified time, and if your wages are unpaid, our unpaid wage lawyers can help you pursue justice.

At Rekhi & Wolk, we consider withheld wages as theft, and we’ll pursue the justice you deserve. Our unpaid wages lawyers in Bellevue, WA, have brought many cases to court and have successfully recovered the unpaid wages owed.

If you believe your employer has withheld your pay, then the unpaid wage lawyers at Rekhi & Wolk can help you understand your options to pursue justice. We’ll guide you through the legal process and give you the strategy you need to fight for your unpaid wages.

How to Know if You’re a Victim of Wage Theft

Federal, State, and Bellevue laws require all employers to pay wages, minimum wage, and overtime wages where applicable.

What Wage Laws Protect Employees in and around Seattle?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that protects employee’s rights by governing minimum wage and overtime requirements. It also requires employers to keep diligent records and to uphold child labor standards.

Washington’s Minimum Wage Act provides the same protections in addition to a higher minimum wage requirement as well as standards for paid sick leave and safe time. As an employee, Washington Law entitles you to meal breaks, rest breaks, and paid wages when terminated. At no time can an employer make deductions to your pay for their own interest and benefit.

Exemptions from FLSA and the Washington Minimum Wage Act – Executives, Professionals, and Independent Contractors

In Washington, certain parties are exempt from the FLSA and the Washington Minimum Wage Act. If you are an independent contractor, you are exempt from the rights entitled in the FLSA and the Washington Minimum Wage Act.

How do you know if you’re considered a protected employee or an independent contractor to your employer? If you aren’t economically dependent on your employer, or if your role’s duties aren’t supervised by the company, then you most likely are not eligible for the wage protection rights that FLSA and Washington Minimum Wage Act offer.

Executive, administrative, and professional employees may not be entitled to overtime pay if they make over $455 per week. In most cases, these employees are paid salaries and not hourly.

Determining if you are entitled to the wage protection benefits outlined in the FLSA or Washington Minimum Wage Act can be complex. If you’re unsure of your position, Rekhi & Wolk can help. Our unpaid wage lawyers in Bellevue, WA, can help you determine your rights as an employee, help you understand why your role is exempt, or pursue your unpaid wages.

Most Common Wage and Hour Abuses

Failure to Pay Overtime

Regardless of whether you are an hourly or salaried employee, you may be entitled to overtime pay. Overtime pay is classified as a higher rate of pay for working over 40 hours per week. If you believe you weren’t paid overtime, our unpaid wage lawyers in Bellevue, WA, can help you.

Failure to Pay Minimum Wage

As an employee, you have rights in regard to your wage and hours. Depending on your role, if you receive tips from customers for your work, your employer may attempt to pay you less than minimum wage. In addition, employers may attempt to withhold pay for some workplace activities, such as opening and closing the business, training, and meetings.

Failure to Receive Breaks

In Washington, you are entitled to a 10-minute rest break for every four hours of work. In addition, you are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break for every five hours of work. Employers are required to enforce breaks for their employees, and if breaks aren’t taken, the employer must pay for the time.

Minimum Wage Act

According to the FLSA and Washington Minimum Wage Act, you are entitled to a state-wide minimum wage and are protected from being paid less than the minimum wage.

What is the Minimum Wage in Bellevue, WA?

The minimum wage in Bellevue, WA, is $16.69 per hour. King county’s living wage ordinance states that employers with less than 500 employees must pay $15.00 as the minimum wage. Depending on your place of employment, if you work on public works contracts, or if you are a designated employee working in another part of King County, you may have another minimum wage.

Paid Sick Leave

In Washington State, you are entitled to paid sick leave from your employer. Washington’s paid sick leave law gives employees additional rights and protections in the workplace.

If your employer denies payment for your paid sick leave, contact our unpaid wage lawyers in Bellevue, WA, immediately to see how we help you pursue justice.

Violations to Tipped Employees

As an employee, you are entitled to all tips, gratuities, and service charges from your work. Your employer cannot withhold or deduct any of your tips from the mandated minimum wage.

If you are paid less than minimum wage due to your position receiving tips, contact us today. As an employee, you are entitled to the minimum wage, and we can help you fight for your unpaid wages.

Misclassification of Employees

Since independent contractors are exempt from the FLSA and Washington Minimum Wage Act, your employer may try to misclassify you as an independent contractor so they can pay you less.

Employee vs. Independent Contractor

The difference between employees and independent contractors is the level of oversight and control your employer has over your work. Independent contractors can be classified as an employee when:

The worker performs the work of the employer;
The worker’s hours and work location are dictated by the employer;
The worker uses the tools and equipment of the employer;
The worker is trained by the employer.

Failure to Pay Off the Clock Work

Employers are responsible for paying employees for travel, meetings, training, and opening and closing the business. All work outside of normal operating hours must be paid work.

Failure to Pay Commissions & Bonuses

If commissions and bonuses are part of your employment contract, you are entitled to those payments. When you aren’t paid commissions or bonuses, your employer is in violation of your employment contract, and our unpaid wage attorneys in Bellevue, WA, can help you pursue your unpaid wages.

Illegal Paycheck Deductions

Not all paycheck deductions are illegal. Your employer may make the deductions below regardless if the deduction brings your wage below Washington State minimum wage:

Deductions required by state or federal law, such as federal income taxes, Medicare, workers’ compensation, etc.;
Court-ordered wage garnishments;
Deductions that benefit the employee if the employee has agreed to the deductions in advance and in writing.
Deductions for cash advances, the employee’s purchase of goods or services from the employer, or rent for living on the employer’s property, or the employee’s health, dental, vision, or other insurance payments.
Deductions for medical, surgical, or hospital care or service.

In the State of Washington, employers may not deduct from your paycheck to pay for something that benefits them. At Rekhi & Wolk, our unpaid wage lawyers can help you navigate and understand your wage deductions if you believe your employer is wrongfully deducting from your pay. We’ll work with you to determine if your pay is being illegally deducted and fight for you to get your unpaid wages.

How Can Our Team of Wage Lawyers in Washington Help You?

We Thoroughly Investigate Wage Claims

At Rekhi & Wolk, we leave no stone unturned. We thoroughly investigate your claims and the relevant rights the law entitles you to.

We are Skilled at Negotiation with Employers

Our unpaid wage lawyers are skilled in negotiating with your employer. Some cases don’t need to be brought to court, and our attorneys can voice your claims directly to your employer. Sometimes, our attorneys remedied cases without filing a lawsuit.

The Statute of Limitations for Back Pay in Washington State

According to Washington’s Wage Payment Act, you are entitled to file a complaint about back pay, unpaid wages, and other employment issues even if you are no longer employed by the targeted employer.

If you are currently working, file a complaint, and are retaliated against, don’t wait to act. In Washington, your window of opportunity to file a retaliation complaint is 180 days.

Unpaid Wage Lawyers at Rekhi & Wolk

At Rekhi & Wolk, we have over five decades of combined experience and will tirelessly fight for you to pursue the wages you’re owed. Our unpaid wage lawyers in Bellevue, WA, will guide you through the process and help you determine if you’re eligible to pursue your claims.

Testimonials

"Hardeep is the essence of a Superlawyer."

"I hired Greg’s firm to counsel and represent me when I was being wrongfully terminated by a former employer. I really could not have asked for better attorneys for the situation. They helped me understand my legal rights, handled communication with the employer responsively and effectively, and helped bring the process to a fair conclusion. There is no way I could have handled this on my own."

"Greg Wolk and Hardeep Rekhi have been representing me since 2011. They are men of integrity. They are very honest, and excellent attorneys. They know my case inside out, and keep me informed of progress. I recommend them to anyone who is looking for attorneys that care about their clients, and care about justice to their clients."