When you work and don’t get paid, you deserve to know why. At Wanta Thome Employment Lawyers, we’re here to help you understand some of the most common wage and hour violations in Minneapolis.
The laws regarding minimum wages and daily breaks recently received an update. If your employer didn’t pay you for the hours you worked or called you a contractor so they could avoid paying taxes, our experienced wage and hour attorneys can help you pursue repayment for any lost wages and other potential benefits. Waiting to take legal action could weaken your ability to fight for the compensation you deserve, so schedule your consultation with our team today to protect your rights and begin your claim.
Whenever an employer violates an employment law regarding workers’ pay or the hours employees are required to work in a day, they may be committing wage theft, a violation of state and federal law. This is the nonpayment of hours worked, failure to pay for walk or prep time, and withholding final paychecks more than 24 hours after termination. Some violations can also break federal law, providing employees with two avenues to seek legal recourse.
State law requires overtime (time and a half) after 48 hours per week. The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires overtime after 40 hours per week. As of January 1, 2026, the state raised its minimum wage to $11.41 per hour. Minneapolis has a higher hourly pay rate, so an employer’s frequent failure to compensate their employees accordingly is against the law. Your employer must also provide you with a 15-minute break within every four-hour work period and a 30-minute meal break. You must also receive pay for meal breaks under 20 minutes.
Misclassification, or classifying employees as independent contractors on federal tax forms to avoid paying withholding taxes, benefits, and overtime, is a violation of Internal Revenue Service laws as well as state labor laws. If you believe any of these situations applies to you, speak with one of our attorneys right away to begin crafting your case before it is too late.
Workers may fail to report their Minneapolis employer for some of the usual wage and hour infractions for several reasons. Employees may not notice the violations immediately, or may not realize their employer participated in unlawful behavior. Other workers may fear retaliation if they report the offense and rationalize that it’s just a few dollars.
Do not wait to report suspected wage theft and take action to recover what you are owed. You worked for your pay, and you deserve to receive due compensation from your employer. Despite this, you have just two years under state law to file a legal claim against your employer for withholding your wages or three years in instances of intentional underpayment. Acting promptly is essential, as evidence can be lost or deleted in the normal course of business.
You may also need to file a claim with the state’s Labor and Industry Board, which can take time to process. To ensure you complete everything promptly, consult our attorneys. At Wanta Thome, we can help you file both claims and ensure you have the evidence necessary to support your case and get the compensation you deserve.
If you’re facing common wage and hour violations in Minneapolis, you need legal help in making your claim against your employer. At Wanta Thome, our award-winning attorneys can offer you honest, comprehensive legal advice and, if needed, present your case to the court. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.