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Not Getting Paid? How to Take Action Against Wage Theft

July 30, 2025 Wage Theft & Unpaid Wages

If you are not getting paid, you are not alone. Sadly, wage theft is a pervasive issue—with workers losing billions of dollars in unpaid wages every year. In this scenario, a Philadelphia employment lawyer may be able to help you, but there are some important steps that you will need to take to help protect your legal rights as well.

Are you a victim of wage theft? If so, you should try to take the following steps as soon as possible:

Step #1: Document the Hours You’ve Worked

You should do your best to document the hours you’ve worked (and for which you haven’t been paid). This includes your regular hours as well as any overtime. If you fill out a time card or time sheet at work, you should also take photos of your time cards or time sheets that show your unpaid work (if possible).

If you have a claim for wage theft, you will need to be able to prove the hours you worked in order to seek the compensation you deserve. While your lawyer may be able to obtain the necessary documentation from your employer, any information you can provide will assist your lawyer with providing a preliminary assessment of your legal rights.  

Step #2: Write Down the Names of Any Coworkers Who Can Verify Your Hours

Another good step you can take is to write down the names of any coworkers who can verify your hours. If you work with different people at different points throughout the day, make note of when you work with each individual. Not only might these individuals be able to provide statements in support of your wage theft claim, but they might be victims of wage theft as well.

Step #3: Collect Your Most Recent Pay Stubs and Any Other Employment Documentation You Have

Along with documenting your unpaid work, you should also collect your most recent pay stubs and any other employment documentation you have from your employer. These records will be important for proving your employment history and how much compensation you are owed for your unpaid work.

Step #4: Learn More About Wage Theft

Understanding your legal rights as a victim of wage theft can be complicated. With this in mind, we encourage you to read the following articles to learn more about wage theft (and recovering unpaid wages) in Pennsylvania:

Step #5: Talk to a Philadelphia Employment Lawyer

Due to the complexity of wage theft cases, if you need to recover unpaid wages, it will be important to have an experienced Philadelphia employment lawyer on your side. To maximize your chances of recovering your unpaid wages as soon as possible, you should talk to a lawyer right away.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Philadelphia Employment Lawyer Today

Do you have a wage theft claim in Pennsylvania? If so, our lawyers are here to help. To speak with an experienced Philadelphia employment lawyer about your legal rights in confidence, call 267-273-1054 or request a free consultation online today.