Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers can guide you through a claim for unpaid wages in Seattle. While you might lack job security with a seasonal position, you still have rights when it comes to how you should be paid. When these rights are violated, we’ll be there to help you. Set up a free consultation today to talk about your options.
Should I Get a Lawyer?
When you do seasonal work, you already know how quickly your work situation can change. But that doesn’t mean you’re helpless when it comes to what and how you should be paid. In fact, you have the same rights as anyone else.
But you’re probably wondering if you should talk to a lawyer, and like most situations, it depends. Generally, though, having guidance from our team–particularly if you’re in this situation–can really help. We’ll:
- Explain what the law says about seasonal work and unpaid wages in simple terms.
- Help you pull together timecards, pay stubs, or messages to support your claim.
- Give you leverage to demand fair pay or reach a settlement.
- Stand up for you every step of the way, through either mediation or court.
- Make sure your employer doesn’t get away with punishing you for speaking up.
For a lot of employers, the hope is that you and other seasonal workers will just shrug off unpaid wages and move on to the next job. While that’s tempting, standing up for your rights is important. Our team can help you do that, and the starting point is putting together the right information.
What Information Should I Try to Get For an Unpaid Wage Claim?
A lot of workers in Seattle are seasonal, helping out at Pike Place over the holidays, driving deliveries during the summer rush, or doing extra shifts at a warehouse. But when you find yourself in a situation where you’re not being paid correctly, the best thing you can do is gather proof. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but every bit helps tell the story of what really happened. Here’s what to look for:
- Pay stubs or bank deposits. These show what actually hit your account and when. Even screenshots from a pay app or online portal can help.
- Schedules or timesheets. Whether it’s a photo of the posted schedule or a note on your phone, anything that shows how much you worked can make a difference.
- Texts or emails. Maybe your manager texted you to come in early or stay late, or told you a check was “on the way.” Keep those messages—they matter.
- Contracts or offer letters. If you were told you’d earn a certain rate or get paid weekly, that promise is important proof of what you were owed.
- Bounced checks or pay issues. If a check didn’t clear or you were paid less than expected, keep copies of those records. They help show a pattern of what went wrong.
Don’t stress if you don’t have everything. Most seasonal workers don’t keep every record, and that’s okay. What matters most is taking the first step to tell your side of the story and backing it up with what you do have. From there, though, it’s about knowing what your options are.
What Options Do I Have For an Unpaid Wage Claim?
Once you’ve gathered what proof you can, the next step is figuring out how to use it. The good news is that in Washington, you have several clear options if you’re facing unpaid wages —and you don’t necessarily have to go straight to court to get results.
- File a claim with Labor & Industries (L&I). This is often the simplest first move. L&I can look into your situation, investigate whether the employer did something illegal with your pay, and even order your employer to pay what you’re owed. For a lot of seasonal workers, this route can resolve things without needing a lawyer at all.
- File a lawsuit. If that doesn’t work—or if your employer refuses to cooperate—you can take legal action in court. With a lawsuit, you can recover “damages” that fully compensate what you’ve lost, like:
- Unpaid wages, benefits, overtime, etc.
- Emotional distress
- Attorney’s fees
- Class action lawsuit. If you’ve noticed other coworkers also missing pay or getting shorted on hours, you’re not alone—and that matters. When several workers face the same issue, a class action can push the employer to pay everyone faster and show that this wasn’t just a “mistake” but a pattern.
No matter which route you take, timing is key. In Washington, you generally have three years from your last paycheck to file a claim. But the sooner you start, the easier it is to prove what happened—especially in seasonal jobs where schedules, managers, and coworkers can change quickly.
What Seasonal Workers Are Most at Risk for Unpaid Wages in Seattle?
Unpaid wages can happen in any job—but for seasonal workers, it’s especially common. When you’re brought on just for the holidays, the harvest, or a short contract, things can move fast. Schedules change by the week, shifts run long, and employers sometimes cut corners—intentionally or not—when it comes to your pay. Here’s who’s most at-risk:
- Retail and food service workers. During Seattle’s busy shopping seasons, stores and coffee shops hire extra staff to handle the rush. You might get asked to clock out and “help close up,” skip breaks, or come in early before the store opens. Those extra minutes add up—and they count as paid time under Washington law.
- Warehouses and delivery workers. When demand spikes, workers move nonstop to keep shelves stocked and packages moving. You might spend unpaid time loading trucks, cleaning up after a shift, or waiting for deliveries that are running late. All of that is work time that should be paid.
- Construction and landscaping crews. Seasonal construction crews often travel between sites or wait around for materials or weather breaks. Too often, that time isn’t counted on the clock—but it should be. If you’re expected to be there, your employer should pay you for it.
- Healthcare support workers. Hospitals and nursing homes sometimes bring in temporary or seasonal staff to fill gaps. You might be asked to sit through mandatory training or cover extra hours without pay. Even short-term employees have the same wage protections as full-timers.
- Holiday and event workers. From pop-up retail stores to summer festivals at Seattle Center, these jobs move fast and wrap up quickly. That can make it easy for employers to “forget” to pay for setup, tear-down, or late-night cleanup work.
Seasonal jobs come and go, but your right to fair pay doesn’t. Whether you worked for a few weeks or a few months, Washington’s wage laws protect you just like any other employee. And if something doesn’t look right on your paycheck, you have the right to speak up and file a claim.
Get Help With Your Seattle Unpaid Wage Claim With Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers
When you’re hired to do seasonal work in Seattle, you’re likely just trying to make ends meet. But no matter what your job is or what your employer says, you have the same rights as full-time workers. This includes being paid properly, and when that doesn’t happen, you can get help from our Seattle unpaid wage lawyers at Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers. We’ll look over your situation and tell you about the next steps. Get started with a free consultation.
