New York workers are protected by some of the strongest wage and hour laws in the country — but that doesn’t stop employers from breaking them. Whether it's unpaid overtime, missing wages, denied breaks, or stolen tips, these violations happen far more often than most people realize.

If you’ve been underpaid, misclassified, or denied legally required benefits, you may be entitled to compensation. And even if the dollar amounts seem small, wage theft cases can lead to back pay, penalties, interest, and legal fees — often adding up quickly.

Employers sometimes take advantage of employees who don’t know their rights, especially in service jobs, hospitality, construction, and gig work. But the law is clear: if you worked, you deserve to be paid.

Your Rights Include:

• The right to minimum wage under NY and federal law (currently higher than federal in NYC)

• The right to 1.5x overtime pay after 40 hours/week (unless exempt)

• The right to paid sick leave, family leave, and sometimes health insurance

• The right to timely and complete paychecks, with full accounting of hours worked

• The right to keep your tips (employers cannot take or share them unfairly)

• The right to report wage violations without fear of retaliation

• The right to sue for unpaid wages, underpayment, or lost benefits

Whether you’re paid hourly, on salary, or by the job, these rights apply to most workers — regardless of immigration status.