Yes. You should get paid for the hours you spend training when you first start a job and any training that’s required afterward. In most cases, an employer would be required to pay you for that time, even providing overtime pay in some cases.
Getting Paid for Training Hours in Washington State
Employees in Washington are supposed to be reimbursed for their training hours, but sometimes employers purposely or otherwise fail to pay trainees what they are owed.
Unfortunately, employees can experience this wage theft in their first few days at a new company. New hires may face long days of training with managers and fellow employees. They may be required to watch instructional videos.
It may not seem like normal work hours, but if an employer requires this training and it’s necessary for work, employees should be reimbursed for it. If that training time puts workers over 40 hours for the week, overtime pay may also be due.
Employees who have been at their positions for years can also fall prey to lost wages when employers don’t follow state and federal laws. But there is a way to fight back and retrieve lost wages involving training hours. Victims may file a complaint with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).
They can also seek the help of a skilled Washington State Unpaid Wage Lawyer. A lawyer can help make sure victims are paid for every time they’ve been denied fair pay. A skilled Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyer can often recover all lost wages and even get back more than what was denied.
Washington Labor Laws Relating to Training Time Compensation
Washington’s L&I explains the right of employees to get paid for more than just the work they perform.
Workers should be paid for:
All hours during which the employee is authorized or required, known or reasonably believed by the employer to be on the premises or at a prescribed workplace.
Washington’s rights for workers closely follow the guidelines in the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
It promises fair pay to workers in training as long as a few things are true:
- The training session is mandatory
- The training session is directly related to the worker’s job
Federal guidelines describe how, in some situations, employees may not be eligible for pay:
- If the training is voluntary, workers may not be entitled to pay
- If the training is after hours and isn’t directly related to the worker’s job
- If the training doesn’t involve any work tasks for your employer
In some cases, an employee may have to keep current on certain certifications for their career. If they had to satisfy certain legal standards for their occupation, employers may not be required to pay their wages for the time spent.
What Is Considered “Hours Worked” In Washington?
The definition of “hours worked” is clearly defined in Washington Administrative Code (WAC):
(8) “Hours worked” shall be considered to mean all hours during which the employee is authorized or required by the employer to be on duty on the employer’s premises or at a prescribed workplace.
Employers May Have to Pay for Your Washington Wage Lawyer in Certain Cases
Employees may worry about having to confront an employer. They may feel their jobs are in jeopardy if they speak up. They could also be worried about how they’ll pay the lawyer they require to handle a complex case.
The matter of pay could disappear in certain cases. Washington code forces businesses and companies to pay for the legal representation that victims must hire to get help in a wage claim.
RCW 49.48.030
“In any action in which any person is successful in recovering judgment for wages or salary owed to him or her, reasonable attorney’s fees, in an amount to be determined by the court, shall be assessed against said employer or former employer: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this section shall not apply if the amount of recovery is less than or equal to the amount admitted by the employer to be owing for said wages or salary.”
A skilled lawyer can also help protect your employment during your claim. It’s illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee simply for pointing out negligence or a purposeful denial of wages. Employers are not allowed to intimidate employees or threaten to fire them.
Ferraro Vega would be warning employers of any violations and would also be ready to file lawsuits on behalf of our clients.
Contact Ferraro Vega for Unpaid Wages in Washington
Dealing with unpaid wages or incorrect pay can be overwhelming and stressful. At Ferraro Vega, our team of employment lawyers is here to help you understand your legal rights and hold employers accountable under Washington law. We help clients in Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, and across the state recover the pay they should have received while in training.
You’re not sure if your employer owes you money or not? This is the perfect time to find out. There’s no obligation.
Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward recovering the pay you’re owed.