Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers helps workers in Washington when their employer isn’t paying them properly. Unfortunately, this can happen to you in any industry, even one as booming as tech. For all the perks and high-profile jobs in the state, many software employees quietly deal with something they shouldn’t: unpaid wages. That can mean not getting overtime, being expected to work nights and weekends for free, or seeing a promised bonus or stock payout disappear. We can make sure you get what you’re owed and treated fairly. Set up a free consultation today.
Should You Talk to a Lawyer?
Not every payroll issue requires legal help. Sometimes it’s just a clerical mistake that HR can fix. But if your employer refuses to correct the problem—or if you’ve lost out on significant pay—it’s worth talking to a lawyer. Here’s what we do for software workers in your position:
- Review your employment agreement and pay records
- Explain your rights under Washington and federal law
- Communicate with your employer directly so you don’t have to
- Negotiate a fair settlement for unpaid wages, bonuses, or overtime
- File a lawsuit if necessary to make sure you’re treated fairly
The point isn’t to make things messy—it’s to make sure you get the pay you earned. But practically speaking, unpaid wages affect your ability to pay rent in a city where housing is expensive, cover student loans, or simply enjoy the life you’re working so hard to build. That’s why you should explore your options.
What Information Will I Need For an Unpaid Wage Claim?
One advantage you have as a software worker is that your job naturally creates a digital record. That trail can become powerful evidence when your paycheck doesn’t reflect the hours or effort you put in. While every situation is different, there’s certain kinds of information that you’re going to need for a potential claim:
- Pay records – Your pay stubs and direct deposit records are the first place to look. They show what you were actually paid, and if overtime hours or promised bonuses are missing, the numbers will make that clear.
- Contract paperwork – Offer letters and employment contracts matter just as much—if your agreement says you’re eligible for a yearly bonus or overtime pay, that’s a promise your employer can’t just ignore.
- Badge logs – The systems you use every day also tell the story. Badge swipe logs can show if you were in the office late into the night.
- Messages and emails – Slack messages or emails sent at 11 p.m. asking you to “jump on for a quick bug fix” can prove that you were still working long after regular hours. Even the tools you rely on as a developer—Jira tickets, GitHub commits, or deployment logs—can document exactly when and how much you worked.
- Coworker statements – Sometimes, the strongest evidence comes from your coworkers. If others on your team are also being asked to put in unpaid hours, their statements can show that it’s not just you—it’s a company-wide practice.
Taken together, these records create a clear and undeniable picture: you worked, and you weren’t paid properly for that work. Our job is to help you pull those pieces together, organize them in a way that meets Washington’s legal standards, and build a case that protects your rights without putting you in a risky position at work.
What Options Do You Have For Filing a Claim?
Obviously, you don’t want to be in a position where you’re not being paid fairly–especially as a software worker, where you’re asked to constantly make tweaks and improvements to products. Yet, unpaid wages is something you might face. And when you do, you have certain legal options you can take:
- Filing a claim with L&I – Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) handles wage theft complaints. You can file a claim directly with them, and if they find your employer broke wage laws, they can order payment and even fine the company. For many workers, this step is quicker and less intimidating than going straight to court.
- Filing a lawsuit – If L&I doesn’t resolve things—or if your case involves larger sums like unpaid stock options, bonuses, or consistent underpayment—you may need to file a civil lawsuit. A lawsuit can recover things like:
- Unpaid wages and back pay
- Liquidated damages (extra money as a penalty against your employer)
- Emotional distress damages in some cases
- Attorney’s fees and legal costs
- Class action lawsuit – In tech, wage issues often affect entire teams or groups of employees, not just one person. If your coworkers are in the same situation, you might consider a class action. That way, you can move forward together and put more pressure on the company to pay up.
Don’t wait too long – In Washington, most unpaid wage claims have a three-year deadline starting from your last paycheck. Missing that window could mean losing your chance to recover what you’re owed.
How Do Unpaid Wages Happen to Software Workers?
Unpaid wages don’t always look like a missing paycheck. In the software world, it often shows up in more subtle ways that chip away at what you’ve rightfully earned. Some of the most common examples include:
- Unpaid overtime – Many developers are told they’re “salaried” and don’t qualify for overtime, but that’s not always true under Washington law. If you’re working late nights during product launches or “crunch time,” those extra hours may still need to be paid.
- Misclassification – Some software workers are wrongly labeled as “independent contractors” when they’re really employees. That can mean no overtime, no benefits, and no wage protections—yet the law may still consider you an employee entitled to those things.
- Withheld bonuses or commissions – Whether it’s a promised signing bonus, a project completion payout, or commission tied to software sales, employers sometimes drag their feet or refuse to pay these once you’ve done the work.
- Unpaid equity or stock agreements – Startups and tech companies often offer stock as part of compensation packages. If the company doesn’t honor those agreements, it may count as unpaid wages.
- Off-the-clock work – Answering after-hours messages, fixing bugs from home, or being “on call” without pay can add up. Even if it feels small at the time, those hours are legally part of your work.
For software workers, unpaid wages often hide in the fine print of contracts or the fast pace of the industry. That’s why it helps to know your rights and get a clear picture of what counts as “work” under Washington law. Our team will be there to answer any question you have and then support you.
Contact Ferraro Vega If You’re Facing Unpaid Wages in Washington
If you work for a software company in Washington, you face challenges every day. Tight deadlines, long hours rebuilding code, and numerous projects being dropped on you at one time mean that you earn your paycheck. But when your employer doesn’t come through, it’s incredibly frustrating. That’s where our team at Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers can help. We’ll look at your situation, explain your options, then guide you through the process of getting paid fairly. Reach out today for a free consultation.
