Employees Entitled to Back Wages in Massachusetts

Construction Workers: Massachusetts Punishes Insulation Company for Wage and Hour Violations

If your employer fails to pay your wages, fails to pay proper overtime, and/or cheats you out of your earned sick and other paid days off, your employer can be punished. Your employer can be required to pay its employees all the back pay and benefits that were due and can be required to pay penalties and attorneys’ fees.

Wage Laws in Massachusetts

An example comes from a recent case in Massachusetts involving an insulation company called Master Spray Foam Insulation, Inc. As reported here, a company in Revere, Massachusetts, was forced to pay more than $281,000 for unpaid overtime, for failure to pay for earned sick leave and for violating State rules/regulations with respect to record keeping. According to the report, for nearly two years, from early 2019 to late 2021, the company failed to pay proper overtime to 30 workers. Instead, the company paid workers their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 hours in a given work week. This is unlawful under federal and Massachusetts law. Under both sets of laws, workers are entitled to time-and-a-half for hours worked in excess of 40 hours. Further, the company did not include the overtime on pay stubs for the workers. The company also did not have a paid sick leave policy as is required by Massachusetts law. As in many States, Massachusetts requires that every worker receive one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (up to a maximum of 40 hours per year).

As can be seen, there are many ways in which employers can cheat their workers out of the wages and benefits that are due to them as a matter of law. As the Massachusetts AG’s Office reports, failure to pay overtime is common in the construction industry. But it is ILLEGAL. If you think your employer has been cheating you of your earned overtime and other benefits, contact us here at Herrmann Law. We are among the best Wage & Hour attorneys working to punish employers around the country when they violate the laws. We help workers vindicate their rights as employees. Call us at (817) 479-9229.

Workers who have been cheated out of their wages and benefits have several options. As with the Massachusetts insulation company, one option is to file a complaint with the local or State labor department or the Attorney General’s Office. Many wage and hour violations are handled in this manner. But, to be most effective, it is best to consult with experienced wage and hour lawyers to ensure such complaints are properly prepared. In many jurisdictions, another option is to begin wage and hour litigation in a civil court — either State or federal court depending on the violations. Either method will result in workers receiving the money and benefits due.

Call the Employee Rights Attorneys at Herrmann Law Today

For more information, call the Employee Rights attorneys at Herrmann Law. If you think that your employer has violated your rights as an employee, call us. We are proven, experienced, employee-focused attorneys representing workers across the United States in all types of workplace disputes. Use our Online Contact page or call us at (817) 479-9229. We are more than just a law firm for employees – we are an employee’s fiercest advocate, equipping employees with the legal representation needed to achieve the best result possible.