Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers can help you if you’re not being paid fairly at your job in Washington. Unpaid wages can happen to anyone in any industry, even one as vital as healthcare. Whether you’re a nurse, medical assistant, lab tech, janitorial staff, or part of food services, you have the legal right to be paid fairly for every shift. When that doesn’t happen, we can step in and guide you through the process of making it right. Reach out today for a free consultation.
Should I Talk to a Lawyer?
When you work in a hospital, you’re pretty familiar with the stress and fast pace of a typical day. But no matter what your job is, you have certain rights and protections—and that includes your pay. So, when your employer tries to get around paying you what you’ve rightfully earned, you need to think about your legal options. Here’s when you should talk to our team:
- You’re having trouble tracking your missed pay.
- You can’t tell if it’s been an isolated incident or pattern or behavior.
- You don’t know why you’re missing overtime.
Our team has the experience and resources to help you and anyone else in Washington that’s facing unpaid wages. But more than that, we’re here to provide you with the support and courage necessary to hold your employer accountable. That starts with evidence.
What Evidence Should I Focus on to Prove an Unpaid Wage Claim?
Hospital work doesn’t always leave behind a neat trail of paperwork the way office jobs might. But you may be surprised at how much evidence you already have access to that can help build a strong unpaid wage claim. Here are some of the most useful types of evidence:
- Pay stubs and bank records – These clearly show what you were actually paid and can be compared against your hours worked.
- Schedules – Whether posted in the breakroom, emailed out, or accessed through scheduling software, they help prove what shifts you were assigned.
- Timekeeping records – Many hospitals rely on digital clock-in and clock-out systems that leave a trace of when you were working.
- Patient assignments, charts, or logs – These can demonstrate that you were on the floor or handling patients during times your employer didn’t count as paid work.
- Manager texts or emails – Even a quick message telling you to “come in early” or “stay until we finish rounds” can serve as valuable evidence.
- Coworker statements – When multiple employees confirm the same issue—like being told to finish charting after clocking out—it strengthens your case.
Even small scraps of evidence can make a difference. A screenshot of a text message, a note jotted down after a shift, or copies of posted schedules all help piece together the larger story: you worked, you weren’t paid fairly, and it wasn’t just an oversight.
How Could I Face Unpaid Wages as a Hospital Worker?
Hospitals are fast-paced, often understaffed, and filled with urgent demands. In that environment, it’s common for employees to feel pressured into working without proper pay. Some of the most common wage violations hospital workers report include:
- Off-the-clock work – Being asked to finish charting, clean up patient rooms, or restock supplies after clocking out.
- Unpaid prep and closing time – Arriving early to attend shift handoff meetings or staying late to complete assignments, without pay.
- Missing overtime pay – Washington law requires overtime after 40 hours in a week, but hospitals sometimes “adjust” time records or move hours between departments to make overtime disappear.
- Missed breaks – Patient care is unpredictable, but that doesn’t erase your right to meal and rest breaks under Washington law. Too often, workers are told to skip them when the unit is short-staffed.
- On-call time not paid correctly – If you’re required to stay within a certain distance, keep your phone on, or be ready to return immediately, you may be entitled to pay for that time.
These problems might be so common in hospital life that they feel like part of the job—but they’re not legal. A few missed breaks or unpaid hours may not seem huge in the moment, but over months or years, the loss can be thousands of dollars.
What Legal Options Do I Have For Getting My Pay Back?
Finding out that your paycheck is short can feel overwhelming. The good news is that Washington law gives you several clear paths to recover what you’re owed:
- Filing a claim with the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) – L&I investigates wage theft and can order your employer to pay back wages plus penalties.
- Talking with your employer directly – Sometimes the quickest route is simply having a lawyer step in to explain the law, present the evidence, and request payment.
- Filing a lawsuit – If the issue is serious or ongoing, a lawsuit may be necessary. This can allow you to recover:
- The wages you’re owed, plus interest
- “Liquidated damages” that can sometimes double what you lost
- Pay for skipped meal and rest breaks
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
- Class action lawsuits – If a wage violation affects more than just you—for example, an entire nursing team being told to clock out before finishing work—a class action lawsuit allows workers to come together and file a class action lawsuit against the employer.
It’s important to act quickly. In Washington, you generally have three years from your last paycheck to bring an unpaid wage claim. That might sound like a long time, but records can be lost, coworkers move on, and memories fade. The sooner you take action, the stronger your case will be.
Talk to Ferraro Vega About Your Unpaid Hospital Wages
Hospitals depend on every worker—nurses, CNAs, lab staff, janitors, food service employees, and countless others who keep the system running. You’ve earned every paycheck. When hours go missing, overtime isn’t paid, or breaks are skipped, it’s not just unfair—it disrupts your life outside of work.
At Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers, we understand how stressful it is to keep caring for patients while worrying about whether your paycheck will cover your bills. We’re here to make this process easier. We’ll review your records, explain your options, and guide you step by step toward recovering the wages you’re owed. Reach out to us today for a free consultation.
