Hours changed without notice

[Shandus]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Kentucky

Here's the story. I work as a truck driver out of Kentucky but the main office is in Michigan and normally trucking companies are covered under federal laws. At my job I work local and when hired was told I would be paid a minimum of 12 hours each day I work whether I actually work 12 hours or less. This is the same for every driver at this location. Recently someone new took over submitting our payroll and we have found out (2 weeks late since checks are delay) that now we are only getting paid for hours worked. This was changed without anyone being told about this and now, 5 weeks after it started, they still haven't actually told anyone that this is how it will be from now on. If we were promised to be paid for a set amount of hours and it was changed without anyone notifying us that our pay would be different, is it legal or illegal that this was done. If it is illegal what steps should I go through to have this resolved and our previous unpaid hours paid back?

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Kentucky

Here's the story. I work as a truck driver out of Kentucky but the main office is in Michigan and normally trucking companies are covered under federal laws. At my job I work local and when hired was told I would be paid a minimum of 12 hours each day I work whether I actually work 12 hours or less. This is the same for every driver at this location. Recently someone new took over submitting our payroll and we have found out (2 weeks late since checks are delay) that now we are only getting paid for hours worked. This was changed without anyone being told about this and now, 5 weeks after it started, they still haven't actually told anyone that this is how it will be from now on. If we were promised to be paid for a set amount of hours and it was changed without anyone notifying us that our pay would be different, is it legal or illegal that this was done. If it is illegal what steps should I go through to have this resolved and our previous unpaid hours paid back?

Refer to your contract. If you don't have a contract guaranteeing you 12 hours of pay not matter how many hours you actually worked, then you're out of luck. Hours that you didn't work are not considered "unpaid hours".

 

[adjusterjack]

Do you have that promise in writing?

Will anybody admit to making that promise?

You are welcome to file a wage claim with the state but it makes no sense to me that an employer would pay people for hours not working unless you are on site in between the assignments.

If you had to be on site in between the assignment then you might have a valid wage claim.

Contact your state's regulatory agency.

https://apps.labor.ky.gov/onlinecomplaint/

 

[cbg]

Why do you believe it is illegal to pay you only for hours worked? What law do you believe exists, Federal or otherwise, that requires an employer to pay you for time you didn't work?

 

[Stephen1]

Unionize and get the 12 hours policy into the contract. One person can't fight an entire company but often, when all the workers stand together they are listened to (maybe they don't get everything they want but they are listened to).