Countless workers in Illinois are eligible for overtime compensation when they work more than their standard work week worth of hours. For those overtime compensation eligible workers, once 40 hours of work is put in for a week, anything above and beyond that should be compensated at a rate of time and a half. Workers who are typically eligible for overtime pay protections are general laborers (not agricultural laborers), workers who are compensated through tips, and many blue collar workers. Some salaried workers may also be eligible, depending on their circumstances.
Anyone who believes that they have been wrongly denied compensation for overtime hours that they have worked should consult with an experienced employment law attorney at our law office. Our professionals can help you determine if you are eligible for overtime compensation by your employer.
Workers’ Overtime Compensation Rights Under the Law
Certain workers are eligible for overtime compensation at a rate of time-and-a-half under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA is a federal law which protects workers from grueling hours without pay. A worker who believes that he or she has been wrongly denied overtime pay can file a claim with the wage and hour division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL will review the employee’s claim, and will determine whether an investigation needs to be conducted into the alleged violation of the FLSA by the employee’s employer.
When the employee’s claim is found to be valid, the DOL will pursue the back wages from the employer on the worker’s behalf. The employee can also sue his or her employer for owed back wages as well.
Under the FLSA and Illinois law, workers who are executives, administrators, professionals, and some computer workers who earn at least $455 a week are exempt from overtime compensation. This means that these workers are not entitled to overtime pay if they work more than their standard 40-hour work week. Independent contracts, and some live-in employees are also exempt from unpaid overtime protections. External sales people are also often exempt from overtime pay protection laws.
There are several exemptions to the overtime pay laws, and these exemptions can be confusing. Tests are used to determine if a worker qualifies for protection, and sometimes it is difficult to determine whether you are eligible under the laws or not. An experienced employment law attorney can help you assess your eligibility for unpaid overtime compensation protection.
If you are concerned that your employer is not compensating you for overtime that you have worked, and you believe that you are eligible for overtime pay protection under the FLSA and Illinois law, you should consult with an Illinois employment law attorneys today. Our law firm serves the communities of Crystal Lake, Des Plaines, Rolling Meadows, Buffalo Grove, Barrington, Inverness, and Deer Park. Please call 847-934-6000 to speak to a member of our team.
About the Author: Attorney Ken Apicella is a founding partner of DGAA focusing in the areas of personal injury, employment, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. Ken earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999. He has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star and a Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch. Ken has written and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education seminars.