Legal Question in Business Law in Pennsylvania

Re: contractor will not pay my wages

The answer depends if you are a subcontractor or an employee. If you are an employee, then Pennsylvania and Federal labor laws require your employer pay you for the hours you worked, according to your hiring agreement. Talk to the Department of Labor.

If you are a subcontractor working on a property, you can lodge a mechanic�s lien against the property. First you must send a written, signed letter demanding payment with a deadline for the contractor to comply. If he/she doesn�t pay, then file a lien. A lien is just a mark on the property�s title. It doesn�t guarantee payment.

You can on the other hand, you can sue the contractor. If you are in Philly and your claim is under $10,000, you can sue in small claims court. The result will be a judgment in your favor. A judgment doesn�t guarantee payment, either. It�s just a document declaring that the contractor legally owes you money.

My business advice to you would be to speak with an attorney about the details of your situation and map out a cost-effective, yet realistic plan to get your money.

Good luck.