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Employees work day in and day out according to the demands of their employers. In return, they get wages for their hard work and they sometimes get benefits, but employees don't always get everything they deserve when it comes to getting paid for the number of hours they have worked. Partly, this can be due to intimidation on the part of the employee - they may feel they can not question the boss. But often, the employee isn't even aware they have the right to get paid overtime under certain circumstances.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed in 1937. The U. S. adopted the Act in order to set the standards and guidelines for employers. The FLSA established 40 hours per week as the legal work week and stated there should be overtime pay due an employee for hours worked over that standard 40-hour work week. The rate for overtime wages determined by the FLSA is 1.5 times the regular hourly wage for each hour worked beyond the 40 hour week.

In Florida, overtime wage payments follow the U.S. guidelines. Although employers often will ask an employee to do an errand over their lunch break, perhaps attend a meeting on the weekend or after hours without compensation, or ask employees to start or finish their work day by setting up or putting away equipment outside of normal working hours, this is actually illegal. If you have worked under these conditions, you may be entitled to an overtime wage claim in Florida. Think about what you might be entitled to: if you only work 2 hours a week extra (20-30 minutes a day), at $12.00 an hour and do it for two years, your employer could owe you $2,500.00!

Certain employees are not entitled to a Florida overtime wage claim, so it is wise to contact an experienced attorney who can help you decide if you are entitled to additional wages under the FLSA. If you are determined to be owed for unpaid overtime, you could be entitled to:

• The wages you should have been paid.
• Court costs.
• Attorney's fees.
• Liquidated damages equal to the amount of overtime wage you should have been paid.
• Up to three years of back overtime pay.

Also be aware that the FLSA prohibits an employer from punishing or firing an employee who has asserted his or her rights to overtime wages.

More information from the Author:

Discuss your possible right to make a Florida overtime wage claim with Florida overtime attorney Joseph M. Maus at 1-866-556-5529. You can visit his website at www.jmmlawyers.com, or email him today. The Law Office of Joseph M. Maus and Associates has handled some of the largest Florida overtime wage claims. Attorneys in their office were recently appointed in Federal Court as lead counsel in an Overtime Class Action against a large Fortune 500 Company. Call their offices today for a free consultation or to obtain more information on Florida overtime wage claims.