Suing for Overtime?

An unidentified submitter asks: "There is a federal law that requires all non programmer-type jobs be compensated for overtime. Last year, over the course of a year, I have worked 500 hours of overtime without comp time, bonus, or paid overtime. I have since left the company, and currently I am attempting to sue the company for lost wages. Has anyone ever been in a similar situation, and do they have any advice/tips? Also is anyone aware of good computer/IT labor attorneys?"

Comments

programmer-type?

[MattCohn.com]

"programmer-type"?

What would that meen. Do Network Administrators fall in that catigory? How about website developers? Website designers? I'm wondering, how is it defined, and where is the line drawn?

Related article...

[waffle zero]

... altough some could argue repeated.

Are Coders Exempt From California's Overtime Laws?

Are we left to assume you were paid hourly?

[one9nine]

Were you a salaried employee? If so I don't think you stand much of a chance unless you wrote down your hours and had a manager sign them (which very rarely happens if you are on salary).

If you were a contactor and/or paid by the hour, with all due respect, why in the hell did you not bring this up with your employeer immediately. Why did you work 500 hours (over three monts worth) and not say anything until you got fired (excuse me, "left the company")?

Every place I worked where I was paid by the hour made me specify how many regular hours I worked and how many overtime hours I worked with a clear explaination of the overtime policy right above where you sign the time sheet.

I and thousands of us here have been screw over by an employer (or two, or three), but this is unfortunately is your own damn fault.

Targeted Advertising

[linuxwrangler]

WOW! /.'s target advertising is brilliant.

As I read this topic on overtime the banner ad has links for:

Time Card/Overtime Calculator Software" to help you track it,

Woodley and McGillivary overtime lawyers and
Edwards and George overtime lawyers to help you sue for it and

Career Builders to help you find a new job when you are done with the lawyers.

Federal Law?

[DeComposer]

There are an awful lot of salaried, non-manangement people who've been working bazillions of hours of unpaid overtime.

AFAIK, this is fully permitted by law; overtime pay is specified in the terms of their employment contracts.

If you know of a specific federal law that mandates pay, regardless of exempt status, I (and 60 million other salary-slaves) would certainly appreciate a link to the relevant law.

Re:Start by...

[Danse]

Just because the contract says that doesn't mean it's enforceable. If it violates some state or federal law, then the clause would be rendered unenforceable.