When employees of Missouri companies are asked to work extra hours outside of their designated hours, they have the right to be paid overtime. According to state and federal guidelines, employees should receive one and a half times their standard pay rate during all overtime hours worked. Any overtime pay that is accrued by employees should be received within the pay period it was earned. Companies who fail to abide by the law are subject to legal punishment.  In a recent case out of Ohio, there has been a growing concern as prison nurses are being asked to work excessive overtime to [...]

When an employee in a Missouri company works more than 40 hours in a workweek, and he or she is not overtime exempt, it is natural to expect the paycheck to reflect the time-and-a-half pay for each hour of overtime. If the paycheck is much less than expected based on the minimum rate, the employee may want to explore the reasons for it.  An employer that refuses to correct the issue may believe that the employee will have little recourse. However, federal and state laws protect employees from being taken advantage of in this way. According to the Missouri Department of Labor [...]

You love your job in the financial industry, but just recently your employer has been requiring that you work overtime. Maybe you're a single mom, or a busy dad with kids, and you barely get enough quality family time as it is. Do you have to work overtime, or can you just say no?  The answer is yes to both. But if you do say no, your employer could fire you. Can my employer do that? Most employees are used to the standard 40-hour work week, but this is not necessarily the case in all situations. You may find yourself [...]

While many companies in Missouri pay strict attention to complying with the federal guidelines for paying overtime, it can be complicated at times with the differing regulations on a state level. In fact, the specific rules required by state government can create confusion and leave employers struggling to define exactly what protocols to adhere to.  According to the United States Department of Labor, the Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to compensate their employees for hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a regular work week. This compensation should be one and a half times their usual pay. There [...]

While the concept of overtime pay may seem relatively clear to you, it can be a bit confusing at times. In situations where deciphering whether or not overtime pay is applicable to your earnings, you may be left trying to decide if you should even approach your employer. At Donelon, P.C., we have helped many people in Missouri to understand how overtime pay works and to receive adequate compensation in situations where they may be left underpaid.  According to payscale.com, it is important to remember that even if you are an employee who is paid a salary, you may not [...]

If you are part of the workforce in Missouri, chances are you value your job. Even though it may be stressful at times, your career allows you the chance to learn and strengthen your skills and to afford a living on top of that. Understanding your title is imperative to making sure you receive all of the benefits you deserve. So, how can you tell if you are an independent contractor? According to the Internal Revenue Service, whether or not an individual is considered an independent contractor varies from situation to situation. If you are self-employed and do not receive [...]