You did the work. The money has not arrived. This site sets out what the rules actually say, what your options are, and how long you have to act — in plain language, without a sales pitch.
Start with your situation
- An employer has not paid my wages. The fastest route is usually a wage claim with a labour department, and it is normally free.
- I worked overtime and was not paid for it. Whether you are owed it depends on how you are classified, not on what your contract calls you.
- I left a job and my final paycheck never came. Deadlines for a final paycheck differ sharply from one state to the next.
- I am a freelancer and a client will not pay an invoice. Different rules apply — this is a contract debt, not a wage claim.
- I was an intern and was never paid. Unpaid internships are lawful only in narrow circumstances.
Three things to do first
- Write down the facts while they are fresh. Dates worked, hours, the rate agreed, who agreed it, and every message about pay. Your own record is the evidence most people wish they had kept.
- Find out your deadline. Every route — labour department, small claims, a lawsuit — has a time limit, and they are shorter than people expect. This is the single most common reason a valid claim fails.
- Ask in writing. A short, polite written request creates a record and sometimes solves it outright. Keep it factual: what is owed, for what period, and by when you expect it.
What it costs to pursue
Filing a wage claim with a labour department is usually free. Small claims court charges a modest fee and often does not need a lawyer. Employment lawyers frequently offer a free first consultation, and some take wage cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay only if you recover. Cost is rarely the reason not to act — the deadline is.
When to stop reading and get a lawyer
- The amount is large enough to matter to your finances
- You were dismissed, or treated differently, after asking about pay
- There is a signed contract whose meaning is in dispute
- Your deadline is close
- Your employer has gone into insolvency
About this site
Global Unpaid is an information site, not a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice, and we do not take cases or act for anyone. Every rule we state is tied to the body that sets it, and articles carry the date they were last reviewed. More about who we are and the limits of what we do is on the about page, and you can reach us through the contact page.
If you are in the United States, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is the place a federal wage complaint is filed, and it costs nothing to do so.