Wage and Hour Lawyer Macomb, MI

Do you work for an employer in Macomb that has failed to pay you all the wages you’ve earned? If so, state and federal law give you the right to pursue legal action to hold your employer accountable for wage-and-hour violations and to recover the wages or salary you deserve. However, these claims are complicated and are subject to strict deadlines, and you deserve the help of an experienced attorney who can resolve these challenges on your behalf. Contact Fagan McManus, P.C., for an initial case review with a wage-and-hour lawyer disputes attorney serving Macomb, and let us stand up for your rights and interests.

Important Wage-and-Hour Laws & How They Protect You

State and federal law protect workers’ rights to fair wages and pay procedures. At the federal level, the Fair Labor Standards Act governs wage-and-hour issues for many private employers and local, state, and federal government agencies. The FLSA mandates that workers receive a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. However, states and municipalities can set higher minimum wages for private sector, state, and local employers in their jurisdictions. Michigan has a minimum wage of $13.73 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. This rate will increase to $15 per hour on January 1, 2027. Employers may pay employees under 18 a minimum wage equal to 85 percent of the applicable state minimum wage.

The FLSA also requires overtime pay for all time that covered, non-exempt employees work beyond 40 hours in a workweek, equal to at least one and a half times the worker’s regular pay rate. Employers may exempt employees who work in specified roles, including executive, administrative, professional, and computer-related occupations.

The FLSA permits employers to take a partial credit against their minimum wage obligations for employees engaged in occupations that customarily and regularly receive tips. The law also requires employers to keep time sheets and pay records for employees.

Michigan’s wage-and-hour laws provide similar protections for workers, though they cover a broader scope of private sector employers than the FLSA. Michigan also has an Earned Sick Time Act that allows many Michigan workers to receive paid sick leave. Hourly employees earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. However, hourly workers of small businesses may only use a maximum of 40 hours of paid sick leave in a calendar year, while workers for all other businesses may use a maximum of 72 hours in a calendar year, unless an employer selects a higher limit. The law assumes that salaried employees work 40 hours per week, and salaried employees accrue sick time based on their regular workweek, even if they typically work fewer than 40 hours per week.

Workers may pursue legal claims under state or federal wage-and-hour laws to recover awards that provide various kinds of compensation, including:

Unpaid wages, including overtime and the difference between wages received and the applicable minimum wage
Attorney’s fees and legal costs incurred in pursuing wage-and-hour claims
Liquidated damages, which can multiply the back pages award

Common Wage-and-Hour Disputes in Macomb, MI

Macomb employers have been known to violate wage-and-hour laws in a number of ways, including by:

Failing to pay the applicable minimum wage, including by paying a weekly or monthly stipend that equates to an hourly wage below minimum wage
Not paying overtime to non-exempt employees for any time worked over 40 hours in a workweek
Inaccurately calculating wages or overtime pay
Misclassifying employees as exempt from overtime rules or as independent contractors exempt from wage-and-hour laws
Not keeping track of hours and pay
Failing to pay wages during regular pay periods
Failing to provide workers with pay stubs indicating hours worked/wages or salary, employer deductions, and tax withholdings
Making unlawful or unauthorized deductions
Requiring off-the-clock work for hourly employees, such as requiring workers to set up or clean up workstations before clocking in or after clocking out
Retaliating against workers, including whistleblower retaliation against workers who raise internal grievances about wage-and-hour violations or who file complaints with state and federal agencies

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

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, you typically have two years from the pay date on which a wage-and-hour violation occurred to file a federal lawsuit against your employer. However, the limitations period can extend to three years if your employer willfully violated the FLSA.

Under the Michigan Workforce Opportunity Wage Act, an employee has three years to file a lawsuit in court or a complaint with state agencies for overtime or minimum wage violations. Employees have 12 months to file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division for nonpayment of wages or 30 days to file a complaint alleging retaliatory discharge or reduction of pay for filing a wage-and-hour claim.

Because different types of wage-and-hour claims have different deadlines, depending on the applicable law, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that you can file your claims on time.

How Can an Attorney Help with Your Wage-and-Hour Dispute?

An experienced wage-and-hour violations attorney serving Macomb can help you to stand up to your employer and demand compensation and justice by:

Thoroughly investigating your claims to uncover supporting evidence, including time sheets, pay stubs, employment contracts, emails, text messages, written correspondence, and witness statements
Calculating the total value of your lost or unpaid wages
Helping you understand your legal rights so that you can make informed decisions
Negotiating with your employer to pursue the financial recovery you deserve
Filing your legal claims on time
Advocating on your behalf in administrative proceedings or in court to hold your employer responsible to compensate you for the work you’ve performed

Why Choose Fagan McManus, P.C. for Your Wage-and-Hour Claim in Macomb?

The outcome of your case is important to your financial well-being. Choose a wage-and-hour lawyer from Fagan McManus, P.C. to advocate for you through the legal process because:

Our attorneys have a proven track record of success in claims against employers ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. You can trust that we have the experience, skills, and resources to advocate for your rights.
When you work with us, you can rest assured that our law firm will fight vigorously for your interests and pursue the full compensation you deserve for your hard work.
Our lawyers provide each of our clients with the personal attention and dedicated support they need during a challenging time. Your case is as important to us as it is to you, and we would be proud if you entrusted your interests to us.

Contact Us Today for Dedicated Assistance and Advocacy

Has your Macomb employer failed to pay you all the wages you’ve earned? If so, you have the right to demand what they owe you under state and federal laws. Contact Fagan McManus, P.C. today for a confidential consultation with a wage-and-hour disputes attorney serving Macomb, and let us stand up for your rights as a worker.

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