If you work in Massachusetts, you have the right to get paid. Your immigration status does not make a difference.
Your employer cannot ask you to agree to be paid less than the law requires.
All employers must obey the wage laws.
If your employer did not pay you for your time, you can file a wage complaint with the Fair Labor Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General. This guide shows you how.
Overview
- Ask your employer for your back pay.
- If they do not pay you, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can. Use the Legal Resource Finder to see if you can find a lawyer who can help. If you cannot get a lawyer, you can file a wage complaint to ask the Massachusetts Attorney General's office to help you get your money.
- If the Attorney General's office cannot help you, you can take your employer to court. But you must file a wage complaint with the Attorney General's office first. If you do not get permission from the Attorney General’s office to start early, you must wait 90 days before you can start a lawsuit.
Important: You only have a limited time to take your employer to court for unpaid wages. Find the time limits under Statutes of Limitations on the Attorney General's webpage Employee's Private Right to Sue. If you are not sure how the time limits affect your case, talk to a lawyer right away