A lot of workers have misconceptions about their wages. The basic principle is that employees must be paid for all of their work, but overtime, bonuses, and commissions make wages a complicated and nuanced issue.
Some common misconceptions about wages are:
- Your employer can decide how often and when it pays you.
- Manual workers in NY must be paid weekly
- Otherwise, the law in NY is at least monthly
- Employees in OH must be paid at least twice monthly
- If you are a “manager” or “supervisor” you are not entitled to overtime.
- Your title is meaningless, it is what you do that matters (employers sometimes create misleading titles to avoid paying overtime).
- Your employer can offer you time off or straight time for overtime work.
- If you are eligible for overtime, you must be paid for all of your time – in cash, and at time and a half for overtime. Not straight time, and certainly not time off.
- If you get a salary, you are not entitled to overtime.
- Your unpaid internship is legal.
- Your bonus is a reward for past performance.
- Wrong! It is an incentive to stay with your current employer.
- You are owed a commission even after your employment is terminated.
- Not necessarily. It depends on your commission agreement.
Not sure if you’re being properly paid? Granovsky & Sundaresh can help you understand if you are owed wages and help you recoup those wages. Contact us to learn more.