Gainesville Wage & Hour Lawyer | Unpaid Overtime & Fair Pay

You Worked the Hours. You Deserve to Be Paid for Them.

Federal and Florida laws guarantee your right to be paid fairly for every hour you work, including overtime. When employers violate these laws, they are essentially stealing from you. At Massey & Duffy, PLLC, Gainesville employment attorney Michael O. Massey fights to recover the unpaid wages and overtime pay that you have rightfully earned.

Are You Being Underpaid? Common Wage Violations

Employers use many tactics, intentionally or not, to underpay their workers. If any of the following situations sound familiar, your rights may have been violated:

Unpaid Overtime

You are likely owed time-and-a-half pay for any hours worked over 40 in a week if your employer is:

  • Forcing you to work "off-the-clock" before or after your shift.

  • Paying your regular hourly rate for overtime hours instead of 1.5x your rate.

  • Averaging your hours over two weeks to avoid paying overtime.

  • Failing to pay for time spent in required meetings or training.

Misclassified as "Exempt" or a "Contractor"

This is one of the most common ways employers avoid paying overtime.

  • Improperly Salaried ("Exempt"): Giving you a title like "manager" or "supervisor" but without the actual duties or authority that would legally exempt you from overtime.

  • Misclassified as an Independent Contractor (1099): Treating you like a regular employee (controlling your hours, duties, etc.) but calling you a contractor to avoid paying overtime, taxes, and benefits.

Minimum Wage & Tipped Employee Violations

  • Tip Credit Violations: Requiring you to share your tips with managers or non-tipped staff (like cooks or dishwashers).

  • Illegal Deductions: Making you pay for uniforms, supplies, or customer walkouts if it drops your pay below the minimum wage.

  • Unpaid Wages: Simply failing to pay you at least the current federal or Florida minimum wage for all hours worked.

Unpaid Commissions & Bonuses

  • Refusing to pay out commissions you earned according to your agreement.

  • Changing the commission structure without notice to deny you payment.

  • Withholding your final commissions after you leave the company.

The Massey & Duffy Advantage: Unmatched Financial Acumen

Wage and hour cases are about the numbers. Michael Massey’s unique background gives you a powerful advantage in proving your claim and maximizing your recovery.

1. A Deep Understanding of Complex Pay Structures
With an advanced law degree (LL.M.) in Taxation and as a former Senior Tax Consultant at Deloitte, Michael is an expert at dissecting complex payroll records, commission plans, and tip-pooling arrangements to uncover underpayments that other attorneys might miss.

2. A Federal Court Insider's Perspective
As a former judicial clerk for a Chief Judge in the U.S. District Court, Michael knows exactly how federal judges analyze wage claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). He builds your case to be compelling from the start.

3. Litigation-Ready Advocacy That Gets Results
We meticulously prepare every case for trial. This forces employers to take your claim seriously and often leads to a fair settlement. If they refuse to pay what you are owed, we are always ready to fight for you in court.

You Can Recover More Than Just Your Lost Wages

The law is on your side. If your employer has violated wage laws, you may be entitled to recover:

  • All of your unpaid wages and overtime.

  • Liquidated Damages: An additional amount equal to your unpaid wages, effectively doubling your recovery.

  • Attorneys' Fees and Costs: The law often requires the employer to pay your legal fees if you win.

Don't Let Your Employer Keep What You've Earned

If you suspect you are not being paid correctly, do not wait. There are strict deadlines for filing a wage claim. Contact Massey & Duffy, PLLC today for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.