Chicago Wage Dispute Attorney

For the most part, big cities like Chicago were built on the backs of big businesses. When it comes to paying fair wages, these companies, and small companies as well, often take shortcuts. Many times, they think no one is watching. Other times, they rely on intimidating and frightening systems to deter people from claiming the pay they deserve.

At the Law Office of Mitchell Kline, we do more than just even the odds between workers and large employers. We use our vast experience in this area to work for you. We also put our passion and dedication to work for you. As a result, we often quickly resolve Chicago wage disputes on very favorable terms. So, you get paid faster, and bosses know that you have a tough attorney who will stand up for you.

Types of Wage Disputes

Most workers receive most or all of their wages through salary or hourly payments. Other kinds of wages include benefits, reimbursements, bonuses, and stock options. The agreement between worker and employer clearly spells out the type and time of compensation paid.

Many workers do not have written contracts. If they do, these contracts are usually not very specific. So, a Chicago wage dispute attorney must rely on the oral contract of employment, as well as any relevant provisions in the employee handbook. 

This rather loose legal environment often leads to wage disputes, such as:

• Wage and Hour Disputes: Many employers have electronic timekeeping programs which have lots of moving parts. Technical breakdowns are common, as are human errors. Employers cannot use these things as an excuse to withhold wages. If there is a problem, they must correct it straightaway.
• Overtime: Legally, some employees are exempt from the overtime law, which means they are ineligible for time-and-a-half regardless of how many hours they work. But many of the categories are rather vague. Employers always interpret any uncertainty in a way which benefits them. A Chicago wage dispute attorney, on the other hand, uses sound legal interpretations in ways that benefit you.
• Minimum Wage: Commonly, employers hire unpaid or low-paid “interns” and assign them entry-level job duties. These workers must be paid the minimum wage, and they are also entitled to overtime payments.

Other wage disputes involve things like unprovided health or other benefits, unpaid vacation time, and workers’ compensation matters.

Responses to Wage Disputes

As mentioned, some employers do not pay the right wages because of technical glitches or because they think no one is watching. In these situations, a demand letter from a Chicago wage dispute attorney may be appropriate. This letter informs the employer that it must remedy the situation immediately, or face further legal action.

Many times, that additional legal action comes from the Illinois Department of Labor. The IDOL handles most unpaid wage disputes in the Prairie State. A private attorney helps immensely during this process. A lawyer knows the right calls to make in the expansive IDOL, so your claim gets immediate attention.

If the IDOL refuses to pursue the claim, which often happens for political or other reasons, an attorney can file legal paperwork. Many times, wage disputes involve large class action claims. If the boss is cheating one worker, others are probably being cheated, as well. Class actions often result in large damage awards.

Connect with an Experienced Lawyer

If your paycheck is short, let a lawyer take care of it. For a free consultation with an experienced Chicago wage dispute attorney, contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline. We routinely handle matters in Cook County and nearby jurisdictions.

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