Unpaid Travel Time: When Does Your Employer Have to Pay?
Many employees spend time traveling as part of their job, including driving to a job site, transporting tools and equipment, or traveling overnight for a work assignment. The question employees often ask is straightforward: Should I be paid for that time? The answer depends on the type of travel involved, and whether you are subject […]
Unpaid Walking Time and Security Screening Time Under the PMWA
Many Pennsylvania employees spend significant time inside their employer’s facility before and after they clock in. For example, employees often walk from the facility’s entrance to a locker room or work area, retrieve protective gear, wait in line for a security screening, or pass through a metal detector. The question is simple: Is that time […]
What Qualifies as Workplace Discrimination? A Guide to Protected Traits
Workplace discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee differently because of a legally protected characteristic. While many workers know discrimination is illegal, fewer understand what actually qualifies as discrimination under the law, and which traits are protected. Understanding these basics can help employees recognize when their rights may have been violated and when it […]
Am I Owed Overtime Pay?
Overtime pay is one of the most common wage issues employees face. Many workers assume their employer is calculating pay correctly, only to later discover they were denied overtime wages they legally earned. Both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA) set rules for when overtime must be paid and how much employees should receive.
Are You Really an Independent Contractor?
Many workers in Pennsylvania and across the country are told they are “independent contractors” when, in reality, they should be treated as employees. This kind of misclassification isn’t just a technical error—it can cost you thousands of dollars in lost wages, benefits, and legal protections.
Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees
Are you entitled to overtime pay? Can your employer make you work 50 or 60 hours a week without extra compensation?
What Counts as Hours Worked Under the FLSA
If you’re an hourly employee, your paycheck should reflect every minute you spend working—not just the time your employer chooses to record. But many workers lose pay each week for time they’re legally entitled to be compensated for.
What Employers Can and Cannot Do with Tips
For many restaurant, bar, and service industry employees, tips make up a significant part of their income. But too often, employers misuse or unlawfully withhold tips. Both federal and Pennsylvania law regulate how tips must be handled, and when employers cross the line, it may amount to wage theft.
Common Examples of Off-the-Clock Work
Employees are entitled to be paid for all the time they spend performing work-related duties. Yet many employers cut corners by requiring or allowing “off-the-clock” work—labor that benefits the company but is left unpaid. Both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA) require employers to pay workers for these hours.