Your rights and who oversees them
Citing the right rule and regulator shows the company you know your options.
Statutory consumer rights
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers must pay minimum wage and overtime. State laws govern mandatory timelines for final paychecks upon resignation or discharge.
Oversight & regulators
- U.S. Department of Labor (Wage and Hour Division - WHD)
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- State Labor Board / Industrial Commission
Problems people raise most in employment & workplace
If one of these sounds like your situation, this guide applies to you.
- 01Unlawful withholding or unreasonable delay in issuing final wages and PTO payouts
- 02Failure to pay overtime, meal break penalties, or illegal wage deductions
- 03Employer refusing to provide standard separation documents, W-2s, or employment verification
- 04Misclassification of employees as independent contractors (1099 vs W-2)
- 05Unaddressed workplace discrimination, hostile environment, or retaliation
Gather this before you file
Strong evidence turns an allegation into an actionable claim. Collect these and keep copies.
Tick off what you already have
Nothing is saved or sent. It's just for you.
0 of 5 ready
Never include passwords, PINs, one-time codes or full card numbers in a complaint, and never share them with anyone who contacts you about one.
Escalate in this order
Proceed step by step to build an undeniable record of due diligence.
- 1
Step 1
Submit a formal written wage demand letter to Human Resources and Payroll detailing owed amounts.
- 2
Step 2
Request an escalation meeting with executive management or the company's designated legal counsel.
- 3
Step 3
File a Wage Claim with your State Department of Labor or the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division.
- 4
Step 4
If discrimination or retaliation is involved, file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC within statutory deadlines.
Copy, personalize and send
Keep it factual and specific. Send it in writing so you have a timestamped record.
Employment & Workplace letter template
Replace the 13 highlighted [placeholders] with your details
Formal Demand: Unpaid Final Wages & Separation Documentation - Employee #[ID]
To Human Resources & Payroll Management, [Company Name] Employee Name: [Your Name] Employee ID: [Employee ID] Final Date of Employment: [Date] My employment with [Company Name] ended on [Date]. As of today, [Number] days have elapsed, and I have not received my final paycheck representing [Number] hours of unpaid wages and [Number] days of accrued PTO, totaling approximately $[Amount]. Per applicable labor statutes, final wages must be paid promptly upon separation. I request that you direct the immediate disbursement of my final earnings and dispatch my official separation documentation within 5 business days. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Contact Phone & Mailing Address]