Across the United States and around the globe, employees are facing unemployment because of the coronavirus. The state of Louisiana saw nearly 103,000 unemployment claims for the week of April 4th, according to the Daily Advertiser.
As businesses are forced to close, many employers cannot pay their employees. If you’ve lost all or some of your income because of COVID-19, you might have a wage claim case on your hands.
In some cases, employees who are out of work are missing wages they have earned and are owed.
Are you facing unlawful treatment as a result of a recent loss of work? It’s time to find out what options are available to you and how you can bring justice to your situation.
What Is The Law In Louisiana?
According to Louisiana employment law, whether you are fired, discharged, terminated, or laid off or you quit or resign, you are still due wages for a short time.
- When an employer discharges or lays off an employee, the employer must pay the employee all wages due by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever occurs first, according to Louisiana Stat. 23:631
- Employees who quit or resign: When an employee quits, an employer must pay the employee all wages due by the regular payday on which the employee would have been paid if employment had continued or within 15 days, whichever occurs first, according to Louisiana Statute 23:631
- If there is a dispute between the employer and the employee as to the amount of wages due upon separation from employment, the employer must timely pay the undisputed portion of the amount due, according to Louisiana Statute 23:631
What If You’re Still Employed, But Getting Paid Less Than Normal?
This is where things get especially tricky. For example, the NYPost reports that many employees in the hospitality industry are currently suffering, even though they still have their jobs. Many of the staff for bars and restaurants are tipped employees. Even if hospitality businesses continue paying their employees their base pay, that is a fraction of what those employees might hope to earn in tips if things were going as usual. If you’re still employed, you might not be able to qualify for unemployment benefits, but you might have a wage claim case if you’re missing wages you are rightfully due. Learn more about your rights by contacting one of our employment law attorneys today.
What’s Next?
If you’re missing wages that you believe you rightfully earned, don’t hesitate to contact the experienced employment law attorneys at Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf. We serve the city of Baton Rouge and the entire state of Louisiana. Don’t wait any longer to get the justice you deserve! In this time of uncertainty, Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf is the legal team you can trust! Contact our Baton Rouge office by calling 225-343-2205 or messaging us online.
3960 Government St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Phone: 225-343-2205
