When a company violates the law, often employees assume that at any moment a SWAT team is going to burst through the door with those loud footfalls and all saying “huh-huh-huh-huh-huh” as they scurry along in their black ninja like outfits.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that way.

“They” – the government, the tax man, the Department of Labor, the judge, the lawyers, the policy… whoever – these magical “they” people do not show up just because something illegal is going on.

Somebody who knows what is going on has to do something about it first.

It isn’t necessarily fair. Perhaps the “watchers” should be watching more closely. The truth is, they’re not. So, even though some people may think that if they post info about something they’ve seen at the company they work for online, or even file a “complaint” with some agency, that someone will march right over to that company, wag their finger at the boss, and slap on the handcuffs. That’s not how it works.

The truth, it’s up to you. The good news is, if you do the right things, it is pretty easy to get help.

To be clear, I do NOT mean that you should take matters in your own hands. (Certainly don’t slap handcuffs onto your boss!) I’m just saying don’t wait for somebody else to notice the illegal behavior and do something about it, because you might be waiting forever.

Start with the things that affect you most directly. Often we find that companies who violate one kind of laws are violating a bunch of other ones too. So, maybe the company doesn’t pay people overtime, and also cheats on their taxes, and fails to file their annual paperwork for their corporate entity. Well…. do you care about that paperwork? Does it affect you?

Start with the things that affect you. Why? It’s not to be greedy – although there’s nothing wrong with taking a stand on things that do affect you personally, mind you. But what I mean is that cases are so much stronger when there is an actual claimant (you)who is actually affected, who is making an actual claim, regarding his/her own wages. When someone makes some vague allegation that the company is doing “illegal stuff” that doesn’t really have much tangible effect on you, and it is harder to help you with that.

If you want to be paid your correct wages, then it is up to you to do something about it.

We will be there for you when you do. We are here for the very purpose to have your back on that. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. For this particular issue – underpaid compensation – all you have to do is give us a call or email. If you have a claim we can help you with, we will take it from there. But we can’t do anything, until you take the first step, and reach out.