If you are a New York employee who has been subjected to wage and hour violations – e.g. your boss withheld tips illegally or compelled you to work overtime in violation of explicit company policy or of New York Labor Laws – you probably feel pretty helpless and confused right now.
On the one hand, intellectually, you understand that you should be entitled to fair treatment and fair pay. On the other hand – or at least you tell yourself this – your situation is “complicated.”
Perhaps you’re angling for a promotion and you don’t want to “make waves” by complaining about the wage and hour violation. Perhaps you’re just terrified of your boss. Perhaps you were raised to “tough it out” when things get rocky. In any case, you are aware of a subtle dissonance in your life. You know you deserve better. But you’re not sure how to break out of the cycle and demand better treatment… and potentially get compensated for damages that you’ve endured.