Federal and state laws set out in detail the minimum  every worker is entitled to receive. These laws also identify which workers are entitled to receive overtime pay for working longer hours. Unfortunately, and often unintentionally, some employers fail to comply with these legal requirements. Common violations of the law related to employment wages include:

• Not paying the correct minimum wage.
• Paying the lower “training wage” or “youth minimum wage” to workers who should be paid more.
• Not paying overtime
• Making employees work “off-the-clock,” and not paying them for it.
• Deducting too much for tips.
• Deducting for wages paid in goods, such as meals or food.

The wage and hour laws are meant to protect employees, and to ensure that their employers treat them with fairness in terms of payment for work done.