The right to overtime pay can make a sincere difference in the life of hard-working individuals and those individuals whom they support. When an employer fails to pay rightful overtime wages, workers may find that they’re working too hard to be of much help at home and they also aren’t being properly compensated for that effort in the workplace.
Thankfully, last month, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the reach of overtime wage rights to workers who have too often been taken advantage of. Specifically, SCOTUS ruled that an employee who earns a six-figure salary remains entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) because he was paid a day rate. The fact that he made “good money” was beside the point. At issue was whether – as a day laborer – he was entitled to overtime pay and the Court insists that he was and is.
The practical impact of the ruling
Every time the high court hands down a win for workers’ rights, every worker in America is entitled to sit up a little straighter and to speak a little louder. Even if a particular worker isn’t directly impacted by a specific ruling, the win serves as a reminder of the simple fact that workers have rights.
With that said, all too often, workers who are most deserving of the law’s protection and who are fully entitled to exercise their rights accordingly are unaware that their rights are being violated. It is important to understand that no worker needs to know “for sure” that they have a case to make before speaking with a legal professional about their situation. As knowledge is power, sometimes the mere act of asking some questions and speaking up can reveal opportunities that one wouldn’t otherwise realize.