Workers in many professions, including restaurants workers or retail workers often put in many extra hours above the standard 40-hour workweek, especially over the holidays. Many of these workers may have earned overtime that they were wrongfully denied. The following is a brief overview of overtime rights in Washington D.C.
D.C. Law Provides Many with Overtime Rights
Under the District of Columbia Minimum Wage Act, many (but not all) workers in D.C. may be eligible to receive overtime in the amount of 1.5 times their regular rate if they worked more than 40 hours within their workweek. Employers who fail to pay overtime when it is lawfully due may be required to pay the worker up to four times the amount owed that they failed to pay.
Why Might a Worker Not Know They Have Overtime Rights?
A worker in D.C. might not be aware that they are entitled to overtime. Calculating overtime can be challenging, meaning that a worker might receive some but not all of what they are entitle too. Also, some employers in D.C. pay their workers a flat salary when they are not legally permitted to do so. In addition, a worker who may not be receive overtime under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act may still receive overtime pay under the more generous District of Columbia Minimum Wage Act.
Where to Turn for More Information
Overtime pay is legally required in many situations, but not all. This post does not contain legal advice. Those in D.C. who believe they were wrongfully denied overtime pay may be concerned about what steps to take next. One step they can take is to consult with an employment law attorney, so they can better understand their rights and options moving forward.