If your employer failed to pay you minimum wage or overtime, you may be owed significant back pay. Gateway Employment Law represents employees across St. Louis, Missouri and the Metro East Illinois region who have been underpaid, misclassified, or denied legally required wages.
Wage theft is illegal—and it happens far more often than most employees realize.
Are You Being Paid What the Law Requires?
Employers in Missouri and Illinois must comply with federal, state, and in some cases local wage laws. Violations often occur quietly through payroll practices that benefit the employer at the employee’s expense.
You may have a claim if your employer:
- – Paid you less than minimum wage
- – Failed to pay overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek
- – Classified you as “salaried” or “exempt” when you should be hourly
- – Required off-the-clock work
- – Rounded time improperly
- – Withheld tips or misused tip credits
- – Paid straight time instead of overtime
If any of this sounds familiar, legal action may be available.
Minimum Wage Violations in Missouri and Illinois
Minimum wage laws vary by state and can change annually. Employers must pay the highest applicable wage under the law.
Common minimum wage violations include:
- – Paying tipped employees below the required cash wage
- – Making illegal deductions that drop pay below minimum wage
- – Misclassifying employees as independent contractors
- – Failing to pay for all hours worked, including training or prep time
Employees in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Madison County, and St. Clair County are frequently affected by these violations across industries such as healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, and logistics.
Overtime Pay Violations
Most non-exempt employees are entitled to 1.5× their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Employers often violate overtime laws by:
- – Labeling employees as “managers” without true managerial duties
- – Paying a salary to avoid overtime obligations
- – Averaging hours across multiple weeks
- – Ignoring after-hours emails, calls, or job-related tasks
- – Requiring unpaid work before or after shifts
Being paid a salary does not automatically eliminate your right to overtime.
Misclassification Is One of the Most Common Wage Violations
Employers frequently misclassify workers as:
- – Exempt instead of non-exempt
- – Independent contractors instead of employees
Misclassification can result in unpaid overtime, lost benefits, and tax consequences. Gateway Employment Law evaluates job duties—not job titles—to determine whether classification is lawful.
What You Can Recover in a Wage and Hour Claim
If your employer violated minimum wage or overtime laws, you may be entitled to:
- – Unpaid wages and overtime
- – Liquidated damages (often double the unpaid amount)
- – Interest on unpaid wages
- – Attorney’s fees and costs
- – Protection from retaliation
Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who assert wage rights.
Why Choose Gateway Employment Law
Wage and hour cases require precision, documentation, and aggressive enforcement. Gateway Employment Law focuses exclusively on employee rights and understands the local employment landscape in St. Louis and Metro East Illinois.
We offer:
- – Targeted experience in wage and hour litigation
- – Deep knowledge of Missouri and Illinois labor laws
- – Strategic handling of individual and group claims
- – Clear communication and direct attorney access
We don’t represent employers. We represent workers who want to be paid fairly.
Talk to a St. Louis or Metro East Minimum Wage & Overtime Lawyer Today
Wage claims are subject to strict time limits, and delays can reduce the amount you can recover. The sooner you act, the stronger your position.
Contact Gateway Employment Law today for a confidential consultation and find out whether your employer owes you unpaid wages or overtime.