Working from home is a great way to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, many employers are working overtime without getting paid for the extra work. This also applies to workers who need to be physically at work, supplying grocery stores and making deliveries all over the country. Overtime pay is legally available for all workers, but not all employers enforce or understand the laws involved.
Working from Home
The average workday for employees is eight hours. However, during this pandemic, those who work from home are putting in extra hours. The average amount of extra time recorded has been three hours a day in the United States, according to a study by NordVPN.
Work hours have increased due to maintaining a proper work-life balance. The same urgency many employers feel during their normal workday has changed due to the relaxed nature of working from home. To combat the amount of time employees are working, it is recommended to take frequent breaks to be aware of how long you have been working. Also, set an alarm for the end of the workday to ensure that you are not going over your set number of hours. This will ensure that you are not working overtime without getting paid.
Working on Location
In addition to employees that are working from home, those who are expected to show up to work are also facing an overtime crisis. Many employees, especially in food and delivery services, have been working overtime to keep up with the high demand. Grocery stores across the country and Amazon supply centers are working their employees harder than usual to stock stores and homes. This type of required work puts a toll on an employee’s mental and physical health during the already stressful COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of paying employees overtime pay, they are receiving straight pay. Employees are expected to show up to work or stay home and not get paid for the day. This situation has made many workers question the ethical and financial responsibility of employers.
Contractor Misclassification
Misclassification is significant because independent contractors are unlike hourly or salaried workers. They are often denied benefits and protections entitled by law, including minimum wage, medical leave, unemployment insurance, and overtime pay. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the most common denied benefit for contractors is receiving overtime pay. Working overtime puts workers in a financial bind that is hard to get out of.
Many misclassified workers are told that they cannot receive overtime benefits, but under the Fair Labor Standards Act, contractors are entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay. To understand the benefits you could be receiving, it is helpful to contact a skilled employment lawyer. Contractors are an important part of our workforce in the United States and should be treated as fairly as regular workers.
Philadelphia Employment Lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. Help Employees Obtain Overtime Pay
If you were denied overtime benefits, contact a Philadelphia employment lawyer at The Gold Law Firm P.C.. for legal help. We understand the importance of overtime pay and the financial support needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call us at 215-569-1999 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. With offices located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, including Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County.
