Bronx, NY asked in Employment Law for New York

Q: My supervisor told me over text that he will begin to pay me $20 an hour. A jump from $17 an hour.

I recently just checked to see if he was consistant with that and it went back to $17. Is this something that is legal in NYC? August 19th it was was increased. Now im back to 17 without anyone telling me.

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1 Lawyer Answer
V. Jonas Urba
V. Jonas Urba
Answered
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: New York State's Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA) mandates that employers provide employees with written notices of pay rates and changes.

Contact the New York State Department of Labor regarding failure to provide notices. They should investigate that issue. Penalties might be assessed.

As far as reducing your wages, if you are "at will", meaning you don't work for the government and are not covered by a private or union agreement, then you must be paid at least minimum wage plus overtime. In that case you can quit or they can let you go without any reason at all.

If you are discriminated because of a protected class to which you belong discuss that with an employment lawyer. For example, women are paid less than men, etc... Employers could, in addition to reducing wages, eliminate paid vacation and other benefits for "at will" employees at any time so long as they provide notice and do so across the board for all hourly employees.

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