Employment Law
The Holiday Season and Wage and Hour Violations Part 2
Thousands of workers are impacted every year by unpaid wages. Industries like retail often rely on temporary workers that earn low wages during the holiday season. This helps the businesses net a large profit while ensuring that enough workers are present to meet the demand. Whether you are a seasonal worker or a full-time employee, many workers are not aware of their employment rights. If you are owed additional compensation, contact an unpaid overtime lawyer in Tampa today.
In the first part of this two-part series, we discussed many of the types of violations that occur for businesses that rely on seasonal workers during holidays. In this section, we will cover several common questions that both temporary workers and full-time employees may have pertaining to their employment rights during the holiday season.
Common Questions for Workers During the Holiday Season
Whether you are briefly working during the holiday season or have been with a company for many years, here are three common questions that employees have during holidays:
How many hours per week can you work? Many workers will be surprised to learn that there is no cap on the number of hours they are required to work during the holiday season. Depending on business needs, an employer can require their workers to work however many hours they need them to. With that being said, you should be compensated at time-and-a-half for every additional hour worked over 40.
How do meal breaks work? There is no federal law for required meal breaks. Further, the State of Florida has no meal break requirements for workers over the age of 17. Of course, employers typically provide at least 30 minutes for their staff to ensure they have a happy and productive workforce. If an employer doesn’t provide meal breaks, the workers should be compensated for every minute they are working.
Do I receive extra compensation for working holidays? Holiday pay depends on the agreement between the employer and employee. Generally, seasonal workers will not receive additional compensation for working on holidays. However, it’s not uncommon that full-time workers will receive additional compensation for working on holidays.
Contact a Wage and Hour Lawyer
Many high school students and persons under the age of 18 are hired during the holiday season to assist retailers with their increased business needs. If the employer uses a “one size fits all” philosophy with their entire staff, they may be violating several wage and hour laws that were designed to protect minors. If you believe your workplace is in violation of any employment laws, consult with us today.
If you would like to speak with one of our unpaid overtime lawyers in Tampa, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.