Wage And Hour Attorney Newark

A Law Firm Dedicated To Protecting Workers’ Wages

If you work hard but your paycheck never seems to match the hours you put in, you are not alone. Many workers in and around Newark are dealing with unpaid overtime, missing hours, or confusing deductions, and are unsure whether any of it is legal. When you reach the point of wondering if you need a wage and hour attorney Newark, you deserve clear answers and support.

Goodley McCarthy LLC is a law firm devoted to employees. We represent only workers in wage disputes and other workplace issues across New Jersey and the Mid Atlantic region. Our attorneys regularly handle minimum wage, overtime, and prevailing wage claims, and we have helped recover significant amounts in unpaid wages and benefits for workers nationwide.

We understand that contacting a law firm can feel intimidating, especially when you are worried about retaliation or losing your job. Our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible. We listen carefully to what is happening at your job, explain how wage and hour laws apply, and help you decide on next steps that fit your situation.

A Law Firm Focused On Protecting Workers’ Wages

At Goodley McCarthy LLC, we built our practice around one core mission, protecting the rights of employees in the workplace. We do not represent employers in wage disputes, which means our loyalty is always with the workers who come to us for help. That focus shapes everything we do, from the cases we accept to the way we communicate with clients.

Our attorneys handle a wide range of wage and hour issues for workers in New Jersey and throughout the Mid Atlantic region. These matters include unpaid overtime, minimum wage violations, and prevailing wage claims for employees who work on public projects. Over time, our work has helped recover substantial back pay and benefits for people whose employers failed to follow the law.

We also recognize that wage disputes often intersect with other workplace problems. Some clients reach out because they reported pay issues and then faced schedule changes, discipline, or termination. Others are union members who want to understand how their contractual rights and wage laws fit together. We work closely with labor unions and individual workers to align strategies and help protect both pay and job security whenever possible.

Communication is central to our approach. We strive to keep clients informed about what is happening in their matter, explain options in plain language, and answer questions as they arise. Our attorneys view each worker as a person with unique needs, not just a case file, and we take time to understand what a fair outcome would look like for you and your family.

Common Wage & Hour Violations Workers Face

Unpaid Overtime & Off The Clock Work

Many illegal pay practices look ordinary on the surface, especially when they are common in a particular industry. Workers in warehouses, health care facilities, restaurants, retail shops, and construction in this area often assume that certain practices are just the way things are. In reality, some of these practices can violate wage and hour laws and give rise to claims that a wages attorney Newark can help you evaluate.

One frequent issue is unpaid overtime. Employers may pay a flat salary or day rate without adding overtime when you work more than 40 hours in a week. Others may label employees as exempt or managers even though their job duties are the same as hourly staff. In some workplaces, supervisors ask employees to clock out and keep working, or expect workers to handle tasks before or after shifts without pay. These situations can add up to significant unpaid wages.

Minimum Wage Problems & Illegal Deductions

Minimum wage problems arise in several ways. Tipped workers may see their base pay and tips combined in a way that does not actually reach the legal minimum. Some employers make deductions for uniforms, cash shortages, or equipment that bring pay below the required rate. Others pay in cash and keep no accurate records, which can lead to underpayment and confusion about what is owed.

Prevailing Wage Issues On Public Projects

For workers on public construction or government funded projects, prevailing wage rules may apply. When those rules are ignored, affected employees might receive far less than the correct rate for their trade or classification. We work to help eligible workers understand whether prevailing wage laws apply to their job and what that means for their potential claims.

Your Rights Under Wage & Hour Laws In New Jersey

How Federal & State Laws Work Together

Understanding your rights is an important step in deciding what to do about a pay problem. Wage and hour laws come from both federal and state rules. Federal law sets a baseline for issues like minimum wage and overtime, and New Jersey law often provides additional protections that benefit workers here.

In general, most employees must receive at least the applicable minimum wage for all hours worked. Many workers are also entitled to overtime pay at a higher rate when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. While some employees are legally exempt from overtime, that exemption is based on specific job duties and pay structures, not on job titles alone. Employers are also responsible for keeping accurate records of hours worked and wages paid.

What New Jersey Wage & Hour Rules Mean For You

New Jersey wage and hour laws give workers tools to pursue unpaid wages and other relief when employers do not follow these rules. Under these laws, workers might be able to seek not only the wages that are owed, but sometimes additional amounts intended to address the harm caused by unlawful pay practices. Which remedies are available depends on the specific facts of each case.

There are deadlines for bringing wage and hour claims. These time limits can vary based on the type of claim, the laws involved, and when the violation occurred. If you suspect that your wages are wrong, waiting too long to get advice can reduce the amount you might be able to recover. Speaking with a wage and hour lawyer Newark can help you understand which rules apply to your situation and what time frames you are working with.

What To Do If You Think Your Wages Are Wrong

Gathering Information About Your Pay

If you are worried that your paycheck does not reflect all of the hours you work, some careful steps can help protect your rights. You do not need to confront your employer immediately or have all the answers before reaching out for guidance. Starting with simple documentation and information gathering often puts you in a stronger position.

Try to gather copies of any pay stubs, timesheets, schedules, or payroll records you have access to. If you clock in and out electronically, screen captures or printouts of your hours can be helpful. Keep any text messages or emails from supervisors that relate to your schedule, instructions to work off the clock, or explanations of pay practices.

If your employer’s records are incomplete or unavailable to you, you can begin keeping your own notes. Write down the days and times you start and stop work, including any unpaid breaks that are shorter than promised, as well as time spent before or after your shift performing tasks for your job. Even simple notes on a calendar or in a notebook can become useful evidence when combined with other information.

Protecting Yourself Before You Sign Anything

Before signing any documents about your pay, such as releases, settlement agreements, or new policies, consider getting legal advice. Some workers are asked to sign papers that waive wage claims without fully understanding what they are giving up. Our firm can review these documents with you, explain what they mean, and help you decide whether signing aligns with your interests.

You can contact our team for a confidential discussion of your situation. In that conversation, we can review the information you have, talk through what you are experiencing at work, and outline potential options. There is no requirement to move forward beyond that step, and the goal is to give you clarity about your rights and choices.

How Our Wage & Hour Lawyers Help Workers In The Area

Evaluating Your Wage & Hour Concerns

When you reach out to Goodley McCarthy LLC, our wage and hour lawyers start by listening. We want to understand your job, your schedule, how you are paid, and what concerns led you to contact us. That information allows us to analyze whether wage and hour laws may have been violated and what types of claims might be available to you and, in some cases, to your coworkers.

We look for patterns that often signal broader problems, such as companywide policies requiring employees to work off the clock or uniform pay practices that misclassify entire groups as exempt from overtime. Where multiple workers are affected, some matters can move forward as group or multi worker cases. Our attorneys have experience handling both individual claims and larger cases involving many employees, and we work with clients to determine which path fits their goals.

Addressing Retaliation & Keeping You Informed

Many workers hesitate to come forward because they fear retaliation. We regularly speak with employees who have complained about pay and then faced discipline, schedule changes, or termination. Our role includes helping you understand the laws that prohibit retaliation, documenting what happens after you raise concerns, and incorporating those facts into an overall strategy when appropriate.

Throughout the process, we focus on communication and transparency. We explain what each step involves, from initial demands through possible negotiations and, when needed, litigation. We discuss potential timelines and factors that can influence how long a case may take, such as the number of workers involved and how an employer responds. Our goal is to help you pursue fair pay for your work while giving you a clear picture of what to expect.

Why Workers Choose Goodley McCarthy LLC For Wage Disputes

Employee-Only Representation

Workers choose Goodley McCarthy LLC because our entire practice is centered on employees and their rights. We represent only workers in wage disputes and other workplace matters, which keeps our focus firmly on the people whose pay and livelihoods are at stake. That commitment can be especially important when you feel outmatched by a large employer or complex pay system.

Regional Wage & Hour Experience

Our attorneys handle wage and hour claims across the Mid Atlantic region, including New Jersey, and understand how federal and state rules interact. We regularly deal with minimum wage, overtime, and prevailing wage issues and are familiar with the kinds of schedules and pay practices common in metropolitan areas. That experience helps us identify violations that may not be obvious at first glance.

We also bring a regional perspective that can benefit workers whose employers operate in several states. Because our practice reaches across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington D.C. metro area, we are accustomed to sorting through multistate issues that arise when companies apply the same pay policies in different locations. For workers in or near Newark whose jobs or employers cross state lines, that can be an important consideration.

A Practical, People-Focused Approach

Above all, we approach each case with empathy and respect. Wage problems cause real stress, from unpaid bills to strain at home, and we do not lose sight of the human impact. Our attorneys strive to provide thoughtful advice, clear communication, and advocacy that reflects both the legal issues and your personal priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know If My Unpaid Wages Are Actually Illegal?

The quickest way to start answering this question is to compare what the law generally requires with what is happening at your job. In many cases, it is unlawful for an employer to fail to pay at least the applicable minimum wage for all hours worked or to deny overtime pay to workers who are entitled to it. However, whether your specific situation violates wage and hour laws depends on details such as your job duties, pay structure, and work schedule.

Signs that something may be wrong include working more than 40 hours a week without overtime pay, being told to work before clocking in or after clocking out, having your pay reduced below the minimum wage by deductions, or being paid a flat salary without clear explanations of how it covers your hours. If you are on a public project but are paid less than what others in your trade typically receive under prevailing wage rules, that can also be a warning sign. Our attorneys can review your pay records, job description, and schedule with you to help determine whether the law is being followed.

Can I Talk To Your Firm About My Wages Without My Employer Finding Out?

Yes, you can contact our firm to discuss your wage concerns without involving your employer. Reaching out to us for information does not require notifying your company, and our conversations with you are treated as confidential. Many workers prefer to learn about their rights and options privately before deciding whether to take any steps that might be visible at work.

If a case is eventually filed or a formal claim is made, your employer will usually learn about it at that point. Before any such step, we can talk with you about what that process looks like and how information is shared. Part of our role is to help you weigh the potential risks and benefits of different options, including internal complaints and legal claims, so you can make informed decisions about how to proceed.

What Should I Bring When I First Talk With Your Attorneys?

For an initial conversation, you do not need to have everything perfectly organized, but any documents related to your pay and hours can be helpful. Pay stubs, direct deposit records, timecards, or screen captures from timekeeping systems can give a clear picture of what your employer reports. Work schedules, including photos of posted schedules, can help show the hours you were expected to work.

It is also useful to gather any text messages or emails that mention your schedule, instructions to work outside your recorded hours, or explanations of how you are paid. If you have kept your own notes about start and stop times, missed breaks, or days when you worked extra hours, those can provide important context. During our discussion, we can advise you on additional information that may be worth collecting and how to do so safely.

Can You Help If Other Coworkers Are Dealing With The Same Wage Issues?

We often speak with workers who discover that their coworkers are facing similar pay problems. In some situations, it may make sense to explore a case that involves multiple employees, which can strengthen the overall claim and help address widespread practices. Whether a multi worker approach is appropriate depends on how the employer applies its pay policies and how similar each worker’s situation is.

Our firm handles both individual and larger cases and works with labor unions when wage issues affect union members. We can talk with you about what you know of your coworkers’ experiences, then help evaluate whether there appears to be a pattern that reaches beyond one person. If others are interested in speaking with us, we can also discuss ways to coordinate conversations while respecting each worker’s preferences.

What If I Was Already Fired After Complaining About My Pay?

If you were terminated after raising concerns about your wages, you may still have rights. Wage and hour laws, along with other employment laws, often include protections against retaliation for making good faith complaints about unlawful practices. Being fired does not necessarily end your ability to pursue unpaid wages, and in some situations, the termination itself may become part of your legal claims.

The details matter, including how you complained, who you spoke to, what you said, and what reasons your employer gave for the termination. We can review the timeline with you, look at any written records you have, and explain how retaliation claims work in the context of wage disputes. Taking action sooner rather than later can be important, because deadlines apply and evidence may be easier to gather earlier on.

How Long Do Wage & Hour Cases Usually Take?

The length of a wage and hour case varies based on several factors, including how complex the pay issues are, how many workers are involved, and how the employer responds. Some matters resolve through negotiation relatively early, while others continue through administrative processes or court proceedings for a longer period. Multi worker cases and claims involving large employers often take more time due to the volume of records and number of people affected.

When we speak with you about your situation, we can offer a general sense of what to expect based on similar types of cases, while explaining that no specific timeline can be guaranteed. Throughout the life of a case, we work to keep clients informed about developments, upcoming steps, and any events that might affect timing. Our aim is to make the process as understandable and manageable as possible, regardless of how long it takes.

Do You Only Handle Cases In New Jersey Or Also In Other States?

Goodley McCarthy LLC represents workers in several Mid Atlantic states, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington D.C. metro area. That regional scope allows us to assist employees whose employers operate in more than one state or who have job sites in different locations. For someone who lives near Newark but works for a company with multistate operations, this can be an important consideration.

Which laws apply to your case will depend on where you work, where the employer is based, and other jurisdictional details. During our initial discussion, we can talk through those points and explain how they may influence your options. The key is that our practice is built around representing employees, wherever in our region their wage issues arise.

Talk With Our Team About Your Wage Concerns

If you believe your pay does not reflect the hours you work, or if you are simply unsure whether your employer’s practices are lawful, you do not have to sort through it alone. Speaking with a wages lawyer Newark can help you understand your rights, evaluate what has been happening at your job, and decide on a path that fits your needs. A conversation with our team is a chance to get clear, honest information about your situation.

At Goodley McCarthy LLC, we focus on employees and their rights, and our attorneys have experience with wage and hour claims across New Jersey and the broader Mid Atlantic region. We take the time to listen, answer questions, and explain your options in everyday language. If we move forward together, we work to protect your interests, keep you informed, and pursue fair pay for the work you have done.

To discuss your wage concerns with our team, call (215) 273-3491.