Wage and Hour Lawyer Farmington Hills, MI

When you work for an employer in Farmington Hills, you’re entitled to every dollar you’ve earned. Unfortunately, some employers fail to pay workers the full wages the law requires. If this happens to you, having a skilled advocate on your side can make a significant difference in how successful your claim for your unpaid wages may be.

At Fagan McManus, P.C., our wage-and-hour attorneys serve Farmington Hills and are committed to standing up for workers and holding employers accountable. Contact our law firm now for an initial case evaluation and learn how we can help you recover the pay you’ve rightfully earned.

Understanding Wage-and-Hour Laws

State and federal laws are designed to make sure workers get paid fairly for the work they do. Under federal law, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the national minimum wage at $7.25 per hour, though individual states can choose to require more.

In Michigan, the minimum wage is scheduled to rise to $13.73 per hour on January 1, 2026, and then to $15 per hour on January 1, 2027. Employers are allowed to pay workers under 18 a reduced rate—85% of the standard minimum wage.

The FLSA also requires employers to pay overtime to eligible (non-exempt) employees. That means you must receive at least time-and-a-half for any hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. For tipped employees, the FLSA permits employers to take a limited “tip credit,” allowing tips to make up part of the required minimum wage—as long as certain legal conditions are met.

Finally, employers must keep accurate records of employees’ hours and pay. These records are essential for ensuring workers receive the compensation they’re owed.

Michigan’s wage-and-hour laws offer many of the same protections as the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This includes guaranteeing a minimum wage, requiring overtime pay for non-exempt employees, and setting rules for how tip credits and tip pools must be handled.

Earned Sick Pay

Michigan also provides additional protections through the Earned Sick Time Act. Under this law, employees in covered businesses can earn paid sick leave based on the hours they work.

Employees of small businesses earn at least one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, and can use up to 40 hours per year unless the employer allows more.
Employees of other covered employers earn sick time at the same rate but may use up to 72 hours per year unless the employer sets a higher limit.

The law assumes salaried employees work 40 hours per week unless they typically work fewer hours. Employers can choose to front-load the full amount of sick time at the start of each year, and employees may carry over unused sick time—up to the annual usage cap.

Payroll Administration

Both Michigan and federal law also require employers to follow certain payroll procedures. This includes setting regular pay periods—such as weekly or bi-weekly—and giving employees pay stubs that clearly show their wages, hours worked, and any deductions or tax withholdings.

Wage Violation Penalties

When employers violate wage laws, workers have strong legal remedies. Under the FLSA, employees may recover their unpaid wages, an equal amount in liquidated damages, and reimbursement for legal fees and costs. Michigan’s Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act goes even further, allowing employees to recover unpaid wages plus a civil penalty of up to the greater of $1,000 or 50% of the unpaid amount, along with possible exemplary damages of up to twice the unpaid wages.

Common Wage-and-Hour Disputes

Some of the most common examples of wage-related disputes between employers and employees include:

Failing to pay minimum wage
Failing to pay overtime for all time worked over 40 hours in a workweek
Misclassifying an employee as exempt from overtime
Making unlawful or unauthorized deductions from paychecks
Failing to keep track of employees’ hours
Taking an excessive tip credit that results in pay below minimum wage
Allowing non-tipped employees to take distributions from a tip pool when the employer takes a tip credit
Not providing earned sick time
Requiring non-salaried employees to perform work “off the clock” (e.g., preparing or cleaning workspaces, answering emails at home, etc.)
Misclassifying a worker as an independent contractor exempt from wage-and-hour laws
Retaliating against workers, including alleged whistleblower retaliation after an employee reports wage-and-hour violations to management or government authorities

How Long Do You Have To File a Wage-and-Hour Claim?

Wage-and-hour claims in Farmington Hills come with specific deadlines, so it’s important to act quickly. Under the Michigan Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act, you generally have 12 months to file a complaint for unpaid wages or benefits, and 30 days to report a retaliatory pay cut or wrongful termination to the Michigan Wage-and-Hour Division.

For federal claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), you usually have two years to file a lawsuit. If your employer’s violation was willful, that deadline extends to three years.

Because different rules and timelines may apply depending on your situation, it’s smart to talk with a lawyer at Fagan McManus, P.C. as soon as possible. We can explain which deadlines apply and make sure your claim is filed on time.

How Can a Wage-and-Hour Lawyer Help?

Let the legal team at Fagan McManus, P.C. help you navigate the legal process to recover the pay you deserve in your wage-and-hour dispute by:

Investigating your claim to recover critical evidence, such as your timesheets, pay stubs, and employment contracts or offer letter
Determining your legal rights and calculating back pay owed to you under the law
Filing your claims on time to protect your rights to pursue compensation
Negotiating with your employer to secure an efficient resolution of your claims through a settlement
Taking your claims to court when necessary to demand the pay you deserve or to hold your employer accountable for violating your rights

Why Choose Fagan McManus, P.C.?

If your employer in Farmington Hills has withheld wages you’ve rightfully earned, a wage-and-hour attorney at Fagan McManus, P.C. can give you a strong chance of recovering the pay you’re owed and addressing any other harm caused by your employer’s actions.

Here’s why many employees choose our firm:

Our lawyers have a proven history of holding employers of all sizes accountable for wage-and-hour violations — from small local businesses to major Fortune 500 companies.
When you work with us, you can count on dedicated advocates who will protect your rights, keep you informed throughout your case, and pursue the full compensation you’ve earned through your hard work.
We’re committed to providing each client with personal attention and focused support, so you never feel like just another case file.

Contact Us Today for Dedicated Advocacy and Support

Has your employer in Farmington Hills not been paying you the wages you’re legally owed? If so, the right legal support can help you hold your employer accountable and pursue the justice you deserve. Contact the law firm of Fagan McManus, P.C., today for a confidential consultation with an experienced employment law attorney serving Farmington Hills. We’ll walk you through your rights under state and federal wage-and-hour laws and explain the options you have to recover the compensation you’ve earned.

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