Where to look for evidence for a wage and hour claim

If you feel like you’ve been cheated out of your wages, then you need to be prepared to take legal action. But simply filing a case against your employer isn’t enough. You’ll need to gather strong evidence to support your allegations so that you can present a robust case that positions you for the successful outcome that you want and deserve.

Yet, figuring out the best way to build your wage and hour claim can be tricky, especially if you’ve never had to navigate the legal arena before. But don’t let your uncertainty cause you to make the mistake of building your claim on the fly. Adequate and thorough preparation very well could be the key to your case, and anything less could jeopardize your claim. This means that now is the time to start building your case.

Where can you look for evidence to support your wage and hour claim?

Some wage and hour cases are hard to prove, while in others it may feel like there’s an overwhelming amount of evidence. Regardless of the positioning of your case, you have to be diligent in gathering evidence that supports your legal arguments. This includes looking in the following places:

  • Your timesheets: These records, whether they’re formally submitted to your employer or are your own informal tracking, can help demonstrate the true number of hours that you worked, thereby serving as a basis for legal action. If you struggle to get these records from your employer, then you might have to utilize the formal discovery process to secure them.
  • Communications with your employer: Written communications can be powerful evidence in a wage and hour case. An email or text message might show that you were wrongfully denied meal and rest breaks, or that you were forced to perform pre-shift work without compensation. Regardless of the circumstances of your case, be sure to seek out and retain these communications. If all conversations about your pay and hours were verbal, then be sure to document them as quickly as possible.
  • Witness accounts: There’s a chance that you’re not the only one at your job who has been cheated out of hard-earned wages. Talk to your co-workers to see if anyone else has been treated unfairly or if they’ve witnessed behavior that helps show that you’ve been denied the wages that you deserve. It’s best if you can get written statements from these witnesses, but even if you can’t, it’s helpful to secure their contact information so that you can reach out to them later, if needed.
  • Internal communications: Although your employer might put on a front that gives the appearance that they’ve done nothing wrong, there may be internal communications that show that there’s widespread violation of the law when it comes to wages and hours. In fact, in some instances, these internal communications clearly show attempts to cover up wrongdoing. You should be able to access these documents if you engage in thorough legal discovery.

Know how to build the effective wage and hour claim you need

You work hard for your wages. You shouldn’t be denied the pay you deserve. But if you feel like your employer has treated you unfairly and robbed you of your income, then it’s up to you to take legal action to remedy the situation. You can’t expect someone to fix it for you with proactiveness on your part. So, even if you have a sneaking suspicion that you’ve been wronged, now is the time to fully analyze the situation to see what kind of legal arguments can be made to protect your interests.