Unpaid Wages in the United States: Keep Records and Find the Right Complaint Office

How to record unpaid work, contact the federal Wage and Hour Division, and distinguish federal protections from state rules.

Start with a record, even without a pay stub

If you think your pay is wrong, the Department of Labor recommends recording each workday's start and finish times, meal breaks, payment dates and amounts. Keep your employer's name and worksite address. If you receive a check, photograph or copy it before cashing it. Missing records do not mean you cannot contact the Wage and Hour Division (WHD); its FAQ explains how workers can provide what they know.

Official sources: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/faq/workers

Check which rules apply to your work

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) generally requires covered, non-exempt employees to receive at least the federal minimum wage and overtime at one and a half times the regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Some workers are exempt from particular protections. The federal law does not generally require pay stubs, vacation pay or premium pay just for working a weekend. State laws may cover matters the federal law does not. Ask WHD or your state labor agency about your situation rather than assuming every deduction or missing benefit is a federal violation.

Official sources: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/faq/workers

Contact WHD without paying a complaint fee

You can ask about your rights before deciding whether to complain. Call 1-866-487-9243 or contact a local WHD office. DOL says filing and investigations are free, and the division can communicate in more than 200 languages. Its enforcement of wage protections does not depend on a worker's immigration status. This statement concerns enforcement for covered work, not permission to work or an immigration benefit.

Official sources: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/faq/workers · https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/workers

Ask promptly about deadlines and confidentiality

DOL describes WHD discussions and complaints as confidential, with exceptions when disclosure is necessary with the worker's permission or ordered by a court. Retaliation for protected complaint activity is prohibited. The FLSA generally has a two-year limitation period, or three years for willful violations; DOL urges workers to complain promptly so an investigation can finish in time. Do not treat these periods as a reason to wait.

Official sources: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/faq/workers

Published on Mahjar Post on October 31, 2026. Sources: official pages linked after each section.