Legal Question in Employment Law in District of Columbia
I was caught stealing from mty employer, I dont think my theft was over $5000. However I have been working for him for a year @ $15.00 per hour. He is not pressing charges, and I know that I am LUCKY for that. However he wants me to sign a paper through his lawyer that basically says I will pay them back and that I wont collect unemployment. They have kept my last pay check for about $1,000 and there should be one more weeks pay, which I dont think they will document with the Pay Check company. HOWEVER. My concern is that I am now learning that employers are REQUIRED to pay over time. Majority of my paychecks had hours ranging from 81-105 hours and I've never been paid overtime. Should I bring this up and ask them to take the money they owe me for over time and apply it to the stole money?
3 Answers from Attorneys
It is true that your employer is required to pay overtime. You have a legal right to proceed against him for it. Of course your risk is obvious if you do that. Perhaps you could negotiate the amount that you owe. I assume they want you to sign a promissory note of some kind.
I agree with Lawrence. You should sit down with an attorney and way your options before signing anything.