If my girlfriend was working as a hotel maid under-the-table and got underpaid by almost $500, what can we do?
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If my girlfriend was working as a hotel maid under-the-table and got underpaid by almost $500, what can we do?
Asked on August 31, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Colorado
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If she performed work, she must be paid for it, as per the agreement or terms (whether oral or written) pursuant to which she was working. If the employer won't pay her voluntarily, she could sue for the money in small claims court, acting as her own attorney.
Note that it is illegal to get paid under the table--that is, the wages have to be reported for tax purposes and FICA withholding at least must be taken out. If your girlfriend has been failing to report her wages, she has been herself violating the tax laws and could face liability for doing so--at a minimum, she will owe the taxes she should have paid, and possibly a penalty for failure to report.
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