Underpayment is a serious problem in the United States. The federal government is not immune from the issue. If you are eligible for overtime and your federal agency hasn’t paid you correctly, you need to contact an attorney today so you can get the compensation you are owed.

What is work time?

Work time isn’t always time spent at the office, nor is work time all the time spent at the office. Sometimes, you may be at the office and not working. In certain situations, you shouldn’t be paid for that time. Other times, you may not be at the office and you’re working. Or you might be at the office not doing what you normally do, but still working. 

If you’re a federal employee who is required as part of your job to travel between work sites or different office locations, that travel time is work time and you should be compensated. If your federal agency is not compensating you for this time, you need to act quickly. 

If you’re a federal employee who consistently works from home during the evenings or on weekends and your agency supervisor has approved you to do this, this is work time that you should be compensated for. If you’re not being compensated, you need to address this issue to make sure you’re paid correctly before it’s too late.

If you’re not getting paid for all the time you’re giving to the federal government, you are owed additional money. A lawyer can help you collect.

I’m no longer a federal employee. Do I still have a claim?

Yes! But you must act fast. Depending on how long ago you left your role in the federal government, the window for you to file a claim may be closing quickly. You have three years from the time you were underpaid to file a claim. Delaying any further could bar you from collecting the money you are owed. 

Even if some of this time has gone by, as long as you were underpaid by the federal government in the last three years, you can still collect that money. Each day you wait is one more day of pay that you won’t be able to collect on, though. 

I don’t want to bring a claim against my federal agency because I fear retaliation.

This is against the law, and if you fear termination or retaliation from your federal agency, this is a bigger issue and needs to be addressed immediately. As a federal employee, you are protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Part of this act makes it illegal for an employer to retaliate or terminate an employee for bringing a valid claim.

Contact an Attorney Today

A lawyer, like a wage and hour claims lawyer in Washington DC from Eric Siegel Law, has the experience necessary to help you collect the money you are owed. A lawyer can’t help you if you don’t meet with them, though. An experienced attorney will be sure to fully evaluate your situation and give you the best idea of how to succeed after a consultation.