Syracuse, NY Overtime Violations Attorneys

Tired of Working Extra Hours and Getting Paid Less? Syracuse Overtime Violation Attorneys Have Your Back

If you clock in late, work through lunch, or stay after hours and don’t get paid fairly, something is wrong. Our employment law attorneys in Syracuse, NY are here to help you fight that injustice. You work hard. You deserve every penny you earn.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we stand up for Central New York workers who have been cheated out of overtime pay. We don’t let employers get away with shortchanging people just trying to support themselves and their families. Stand with us and get the compensation you earned.

Every paycheck matters. No worker should feel trapped by unfair pay policies or manipulated timekeeping. We are ready to challenge those practices and bring full justice.

The Law Doesn’t Take a Break, Your Employer Shouldn’t Either

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to pay time and a half for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. That applies to most hourly workers and many salaried employees. In New York we have Labor Law sections 190 through 199 that reinforce those rules and allow you to seek recovery of unpaid wages, liquidated damages, and attorney fees.

Under New York Labor Law § 663, employees can recover double damages for willful violations. That means if your employer knowingly shorted your pay, you could be entitled to twice what you are owed. Additionally, Labor Law § 652 and § 193 prohibit unlawful payroll practices, like taking illegal deductions or withholding overtime pay.

When overtime is stolen, it is not just about money. It is about fairness. We take these laws seriously. You worked overtime to meet demand, deadlines, or to help your team. You should be paid fairly. We help you hold employers accountable under both federal and state rules.

Who Typically Faces Overtime Abuse

Overtime violations often occur in industries like healthcare, retail, hospitality, construction, and manufacturing. In Syracuse hospitals, fast food chains downtown, and small local businesses in Syracuse or Cicero, workers often face policies that count training time, travel time, or on‑call hours against them without pay.

Sometimes they reclassify employees as exempt salaried to avoid paying overtime. In other cases supervisors manipulate time records. Our Syracuse-based employment law attorneys see this daily. We know where to look, and how to use your time records, email chains, and internal memos to expose the abuse.

How We Build a Strong Overtime Case for You

We begin by taking your story seriously. You tell us why you believe you worked overtime and didn’t get paid. We ask questions that matter. We then request your time cards, pay stubs, schedules, and employment agreements. We compare your actual hours to what you were paid.

Under FLSA and New York law, you have two years to file a claim, or three years for willful violations. That window gives you time, but we recommend acting as soon as you suspect there is a problem. We investigate:

• How many extra hours did you work each week?
• Did your employer authorize or encourage that overtime?
• Are there records showing payment or policy documents?
• Were you misclassified as salaried exempt when you did manual or service work?

We use your evidence to build a demand package. It calculates your unpaid wages, overtime rates, liquidated damages, and hints at possible class or collective action for others with the same issue. We start with negotiation. If the employer refuses to rectify the situation, we file a lawsuit in state or federal court. We fight until you get full recovery.

Team Effort: Strength in Numbers

Class and collective actions are powerful tools when a company has a policy affecting multiple workers. We have represented employees in Syracuse-area hospitals who worked off the clock to finish reports and never got paid. In retail stores where managers require unpaid prep time, we have taken on multi-store chains.

When needed we bring in other workers to build collective claims. That kind of legal pressure can motivate employers to resolve cases quickly and fully.

Why Syracuse Workers Trust Us with Overtime and Wage Claims

We have a strong record in Central New York. We know the local employers, from supermarket chains near Outer Harbor to manufacturers near Solvay. Juries and judges respect our work. We have succeeded in recovering significant unpaid wages and damages for employees.

It is not just about winning. We give you honest insight on what to expect, so you can make informed decisions. We talk about settlement value, timelines, risks, and outcomes regularly. We break down dense legal information into plain language. We care about your financial stability and peace of mind.

We also safeguard your job during litigation. Retaliation for asserting wage rights is illegal under FLSA and New York labor law. If your employer cuts your hours or stops assigning work, we can include that claim too. You do not have to sacrifice your job to get paid fairly.

What to Expect When You Hire Our Team

We start with a meeting, either online or in our Syracuse office. We ask for basic info about your employment and hours. Next we issue document requests to your employer and gather your records. We prepare a detailed demand notice.

If your employer complies, you get paid. If not, we file a complaint with the Department of Labor or directly in court. We represent you through mediation, negotiation, or trial.

Transparent Representation

We will explain costs, timeline, and possible outcomes. Often employers settle early when they know they did wrong and you have a clear case. Even then we negotiate for liquidated damages and attorney fees. Believe us, the system supports you, if you have the courage to step forward.

We also look for other violations. Did they make you work off the clock to fix mistakes? Did they pressure you to skip breaks or meal periods? We amplify your case when there are multiple wage and hour issues.

FAQs: Overtime Violations in Syracuse

Am I entitled to overtime?

In most cases yes. If you are paid by the hour or perform manual or customer service work, you qualify. Overtime is required for hours over 40 per week under federal FLSA and New York state law.

What if I was misclassified as exempt?
Misclassification is common. Salaried workers sometimes lack actual job duties that support exempt status. If you are misclassified, or your duties do not qualify you as exempt, you are entitled to overtime.

How long do I have to file a claim?
Under FLSA, most claims must be filed within two years. If the employer knowingly withheld pay, the limit extends to three years. Under New York Labor Law, the limit is six years.

Can I file anonymously or in a group case?
Yes. Collective action under FLSA allows workers to join others. You can remain anonymous in some phases while still benefiting from the claim and any eventual recovery.

Next Steps: Take Back Your Paycheck

If you suspect overtime is being stolen, don’t wait. Let our employment law attorneys in Syracuse, NY review your situation. We will tell you if you have a claim and what it might be worth.

Start gathering time records, emails, policies, and conversations you recall. File for free with the Department of Labor or contact us for legal review. You worked for those hours. You deserve fair pay.

Conclusion: Fair Pay Starts with a Single Call

Nothing should stop you from earning what you worked for. Your time matters. Under FLSA and New York Labor Law you are owed time and a half for overtime hours. We are aggressive advocates who fight to ensure enforcement of labor laws in Syracuse and statewide.

If it matters to you to hire one of the best law firms in America that has earned national standing for wage justice, get in touch today so we can start working on your claim.

Speak with our Syracuse overtime violation team now and let us help you reclaim what you rightfully earned.