What Are My Options if My MI Employer Doesn’t Pay me?

When employees clock in at work they are generally there to contribute to the company and walk away with a paycheck. If your employer doesn’t pay you the wages you have earned it can be extremely frustrating. You have several options to pursue compensation for wages owed in Michigan. Obtain the services of a Marquette wage & hour lawyer for skilled representation during your case.

What Should I Do if My Employer Doesn’t Pay Me?

An employee who has reason to believe that their employer has violated their wage rights has a few different options. You can generally do one of three things.

1. File a complaint with the state government

You can file an official complaint to the Michigan Wage and Hour Program if your employer owes you money for unpaid wages, overtime, or benefits. If your employer does not pay you accurate minimum wage or overtime rates, file a complaint under the WOWA (Workforce Opportunity Wage Act). If you are experiencing unpaid checks, improper deductions, or issues with other benefits file with the PWFBA (Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act).

With either of these complaints, you must provide extensive information about yourself, your employer, their pay practices, time sheets, wage agreements, pay stubs, and more. Your complaint will be assigned to an investigator who will examine the details of the situation and make a determination.

2. File a complaint with the U.S. government

You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division. You will be asked to provide the following information.

• Your name, address, and phone number
• The name of the company where you work(ed)
• The location and phone number of the company where you work(ed)
• The owner’s or your supervisor’s name
• The type of work you do/did
• How you are/were paid and the frequency of your payments

If an investigation is launched they will conduct interviews, review records and documents, and make a final determination regarding whether any violations were identified and how they will be corrected.

3. File a lawsuit

You may also file a civil lawsuit for unpaid wages. With the help of an employment lawyer, you can collect and organize relevant information, build your case, negotiate a settlement, or present your evidence to a court. You may be able to receive the full amount of wages you are owed as well as compensation for legal costs and punitive damages.

It is important to note that if you have already filed a lawsuit against your employer you typically cannot then file a complaint with the Michigan Wage and Hour program or the U.S. Wage and Hour Division. It may be wise to first file a complaint and resort to a lawsuit later on to ensure you have the ability to explore all of your options. An employment lawyer can offer individualized advice.