f your employer is withholding overtime pay, forcing you to work off the clock, or paying below minimum wage, you need a tough Chicago wage and hour attorney. At Karlin Legal LLC, we fight to get workers the compensation they have already earned.
Common Wage Theft Violations in Illinois
Unpaid Overtime
Under both Illinois and federal law, most hourly employees are legally entitled to “time-and-a-half” pay for any hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. If your employer is averaging your hours over two weeks, paying you straight time for overtime, or refusing to pay overtime altogether, they are violating the law and owe you back pay.
Employee Misclassification
One of the most common ways employers steal wages is by misclassifying workers. They might slap a “manager” title on you and pay you a flat salary to avoid overtime, even if you spend your shift doing standard hourly work. Similarly, employers often illegally label regular employees as “independent contractors” (1099 workers) to avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, and benefits.
Off-the-Clock Work & Skipped Breaks
Your employer must pay you for all the time you are required to be at work. This includes mandatory prep-time before your shift, cleaning up after closing, or working through your designated unpaid meal breaks. If you are working, you must be paid for it—period.
Illegal Paycheck Deductions
Employers cannot legally deduct money from your paycheck for things like cash register shortages, broken equipment, uniform costs, or customers who walk out on a bill if those deductions drop your pay below the minimum wage.