Wage, Overtime and Worker Rights Policy

What This Policy Covers

This policy covers pages about minimum wage, overtime, tipped workers, final pay, child labor, recordkeeping, wage complaints, misclassification, contractor questions and related Wage and Hour Division topics.

What We Verify Before Publishing

• Whether the topic is federal, state or both.
• The correct official wage agency or complaint page.
• Whether the article needs a state-specific warning.
• Whether the user may face a deadline or retaliation risk.
• Whether the wording sounds like legal advice and needs narrowing.

Complaint-Path Standard

1. Identify the issue. Unpaid wages, overtime, tip credit, final paycheck, child labor or recordkeeping.
2. Check jurisdiction. Some claims may go to federal WHD, state labor agency, or both.
3. Open the official source. Link directly to the agency complaint or contact page.
4. Gather records. Suggest pay stubs, hours, schedules, employer name and dates, without asking users to submit private records to our site.
5. Warn about deadlines. Tell readers that time limits can apply and they should not delay.

Employer Content Standard

Employer-facing pages should be written for compliance help, not loopholes. We avoid advising employers how to avoid liability and instead point to official posters, guidance, opinion letters and compliance assistance.

Deadline and Retaliation Caution

Wage claims and retaliation issues can involve strict time limits. If a user believes they are being retaliated against or losing money, they should contact the official agency or a qualified attorney quickly.