Running a business isn’t always easy. Employers may try to cut corners or make financial decisions with the hope that it will help them later but it may only end up hurting them. For instance, a small mistake could end up violating employees’ rights to fair pay.
You don’t want to put your business at risk of a lawsuit or fines because of wage and hour violations, so here are a few problems you should avoid:
Making employees pay for uniforms
One of the costs that business owners often have to account for is uniforms. It’s not always possible to buy one-size-fits-all uniforms. Some of these uniforms have to be bought with specific sizes in mind. A business owner may try to deduct their employees’ pay to make up for the cost of the uniform. However, it’s the responsibility of the employer to pay for any uniforms they require.
Asking employees to stay late without pay
A business may have a lot of work that needs to be done in a short amount of time. An employer may ask their employees to stay back and work late. However, Florida workers have a legal right to overtime pay. Overtime in Florida equals one and one-half an employee’s typical wage if they work more than 40 hours in a week.
Misclassifying employees as independent contractors
How an employee is classified greatly determines their rights. If an employer mistakenly misclassifies an employee as an independent contractor, then the employee may not be entitled to overtime pay, minimum wage or health benefits.
Making one of the above mistakes and not correcting it can lead to legal issues. Business owners may need to learn about their legal rights as they discuss a wage theft claim.
