After your employer refuses to pay you for the overtime you are owed, you might feel like there is nothing you can do to receive your payment. However, thanks to overtime laws, your employer is required by law to pay what you are owed and you always have legal options available to you.

Study the Policies of Your Company

Before you begin considering legal action, you should review the pay and benefits policies of your employers. These policies should then be discussed with an overtime pay lawyer. Even if your employer chooses to justify their decision to not pay you overtime with their policies, their actions might still be illegal. 

Know What You Are Owed

Across the United States, overtime is based on the number of hours you have worked. After working more than 40 hours, you are entitled to your normal wage plus a certain percentage. This is based on the work week that your employer has set and usually starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday. 

Talk to Your Manager

The first step when dealing with an employer who will not pay you the overtime benefits you are owed is to speak with the manager to determine if the problem can be resolved through a conversation. They might be willing to pay the overtime after you have informed them of the mistake. 

Speak with an Overtime Pay Lawyer

However, some employers will avoid paying overtime as a way to help their bottom line. An overtime pay lawyer will be able to guide you through the process of seeking full compensation for the wages you have been denied and will help you hold your employer accountable.

Contact the Department of Labor

The first step when holding your employer to account is to file a claim with the United States Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL might conduct an investigation and may help you seek compensation for unpaid overtime, but if they do not assist you, this doesn't mean you are not able to move forward with an overtime pay lawyer.

However, you will not want to wait too long before pursuing benefits because there is usually a statute of limitations for seeking compensation for unpaid overtime benefits. You will also need to act quickly to build a solid case when filing a lawsuit because your employer will also have an attorney who will be working hard to advocate against you in civil court. 

For more information, contact a local overtime pay attorney.