Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers helps teachers in Spokane when they’re dealing with unpaid wages. Even a profession as noble and important as teaching comes with certain issues. That shouldn’t include your pay, but with changing budgets and initiatives, it sometimes happens. Our team can make sure you’re treated and paid fairly. Set up a free consultation today to talk over your options.
Should I Get a Lawyer?
Every teacher in Spokane knows what they’re getting into when they enter their classroom—and sometimes beyond it. On top of regular school hours, there’s time spent making lesson plans, going to meetings, dealing with parents, and extracurriculars. But just because you sign up for that doesn’t mean you don’t have certain protections when it comes to your pay.
If you think you’re facing unpaid wages, you don’t have to get a lawyer. But again, with so much on your plate, you need things to be streamlined. That’s exactly what our team can do for you by:
- Looking over your pay records, schedules, and employment paperwork
- Explaining what Washington wage laws require schools and their administrations to pay
- Taking over talks with the school or district about the issue
- Helping resolve the problem while keeping the situation as low-stress as possible
At the end of the day, paying teachers for the work they perform is one of the most basic responsibilities any school district has. But the realities of the system hit hard. That’s often what leads to pay issues, but the bottom line is unpaid wages are illegal in Spokane.
What Kinds of Unpaid Wages Happen to Spokane Teachers?
Being a teacher is more of a calling than a profession. But that doesn’t mean you should just have to accept whatever the administration or school district gives you. That extends to answers when your pay doesn’t match what was promised. And here’s how unpaid wages typically happen to people in your position:
- Extra hours after the school day ends. A lot of teaching happens once the last bell of the day rings. You might stay late grading papers, planning tomorrow’s lesson, or meeting with a parent who couldn’t make it during the day. Many teachers also spend time at home finishing work for the classroom. When that extra time is required but doesn’t show up anywhere in your pay or contract, it can turn into missing wages
- After-school meetings or events. Schools run on more than just classroom time. Staff meetings, parent-teacher conferences, school programs, and training sessions often happen before or after the normal schedule. If you’re expected to be there, that time may still count as part of your workday.
- Working through your breaks. Breaks don’t always happen the way they’re supposed to during a busy school day. You might cover another class, help a student who needs extra attention, or deal with something unexpected in the hallway. When lunch or planning time turns into working time—but is still treated like a break on paper—it can lead to unpaid hours.
- Required training or professional development. Teachers are often asked to attend workshops, training, or professional development days outside the normal classroom schedule. If these sessions are required by the district, the time spent there may still need to be counted as paid work.
If you’re a teacher—whether it’s at Rogers High School or a private academy—you face situations like this every day. That doesn’t make unpaid wages any easier to deal with, though. But if you think it’s happening, you’ll have a way to show it.
What Types of Things Should I Look For to Show Unpaid Wages?
You’re going to feel unpaid wages pretty quickly, but even as a teacher, you might not have the documentation right away. One short paycheck can get explained away pretty easily. But the more documentation and evidence you have that shows a pattern, the better off you’ll be. To do that, you can look at:
- Pay stubs or direct deposit records
- Teaching schedules or class assignments
- Emails or messages about meetings, training, or required activities
- Staff calendars or school event schedules
- Notes or records showing additional hours worked
- Statements from coworkers experiencing similar issues
Again, it’s important to gather what you can to show the pattern of unpaid wages. At the same time, it’s hard to do by yourself on top of all the other things you’re dealing with. That’s where our team can step in and take the lead in putting all the puzzle pieces together to help you move forward.
What Options Do Spokane Teachers Have For Dealing With Unpaid Wages?
Like any employee facing unpaid wages, most teachers in your position hesitate to bring up unpaid wages initially. It’s not hard to figure out why. Schools are tight-knit ecosystems, and the last thing you want is tension with the higher-ups that control your work conditions and budgets. But something like unpaid wages isn’t going to fix itself. Here’s what your options are if you want to deal with the issue:
- Start by talking with your school or district. Sometimes the issue really is a payroll mistake or a misunderstanding about hours or duties. Bringing the concern to an administrator, payroll office, or HR department may lead to a quick fix. If they agree something needs to be corrected, it’s usually a good idea to ask for that confirmation in writing.
- File a wage claim with the state. If the issue isn’t resolved internally, you can file a claim with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). The agency reviews wage complaints, investigates violations, and can require employers to pay wages that should have been paid in the first place.
- Lawsuit. You’ll want to consider a lawsuit if the problem is bigger or keeps on happening even after you bring it up. This means filing a Complaint in civil court, which can be intimidating. But often, it’s the only real way to hold the school district and its leadership accountable. This gives you the chance to recover “damages” for your:
- Unpaid wages
- Back pay
- Liquidated damages
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
- Emotional distress
Sometimes these problems affect more than one teacher at the same school or within the same district. When that happens, it may be possible to move forward together through a class action. No matter what you decide to do, you only have three years from the date of the last unpaid wage to do it. That sounds like a lot of time, but the longer you wait to make a move, the harder it can be to get records and put together a clear claim.
Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers Helps Spokane Teachers With Unpaid Wage Claims
When you work as a teacher in Spokane, you do it because you care about educating children. But like any job, it’s also about providing for your family. When the school administration makes decisions that take away your pay, you don’t have to go through it alone. At Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers, our team will explain your options and guide you through the process to make a claim for your unpaid wages. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
