Employees who work more than 40 hours in a week are often entitled to overtime pay under federal and New Jersey law. When employers fail to compensate workers properly, the financial impact can be significant. Understanding your wage rights is essential to ensuring you receive the compensation you have earned.
Castronovo & McKinney, LLC focuses exclusively on employment law and represents employees in Woodbridge Township and throughout New Jersey in wage and hour disputes. Careful review of pay practices and job classifications can determine whether overtime violations have occurred.
Overtime Requirements
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New Jersey wage laws generally require employers to pay non-exempt employees one-and-one-half times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek.
Being paid a salary does not automatically exempt an employee from overtime eligibility. Exempt status depends on specific job duties and salary thresholds established by law.
Common Overtime Violations
Unpaid overtime claims often involve:
- Misclassifying employees as exempt from overtime
- Failing to compensate off-the-clock work
- Improperly rounding time entries
- Excluding bonuses or commissions from overtime calculations
- Incorrectly labeling workers as independent contractors
Even small weekly discrepancies can accumulate into substantial unpaid wages over time.
Independent Contractor Misclassification
Some employers classify workers as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime and other benefits. New Jersey applies strict criteria to determine proper classification. If a worker functions as an employee under the law, overtime protections may apply.
Off-the-Clock Work
Employees must be compensated for all time spent performing job-related duties. This can include answering emails after hours, attending mandatory meetings, or completing required tasks before or after scheduled shifts.
Failure to record or pay for this time may violate wage laws.
Potential Remedies
Employees who successfully pursue overtime claims may recover unpaid wages, additional statutory damages, and attorneys’ fees. In certain cases, liquidated damages equal to the unpaid wages may also apply.
Because wage claims are subject to strict time limits, prompt legal evaluation is important.
Learn More About Overtime Claims in Woodbridge Township
For further information regarding unpaid overtime protections in Woodbridge Township, review this resource: Woodbridge Township Unpaid Overtime.
Contact Castronovo & McKinney, LLC
Castronovo & McKinney, LLC
71 Maple Ave
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: 973-920-7888
Email: tom@cmlaw.com
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
The firm represents employees and employers throughout Woodbridge Township and across New Jersey, including Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, and Morris County, as well as communities such as Newark, Hackensack, and New Brunswick.
