Do you need to speak to a prevailing wage lawyer? Are you aware of how this wage is determined and what to do about it? Employees working for contractors or subcontractors on any project which relies in whole or in part on federal or state funds (on ‘public works projects’) must, in most cases, be paid prevailing wages. Prevailing wages are typically higher than employees’ regular ‘straight time’ pay rates, so the failure to pay such rates, combined with the failure to pay all overtime owed can create significant liability for contractors or subcontractors.
Exceptions to Prevailing Wages Requirements
Certain exceptions to prevailing wages can apply. For example, ‘suppliers’ – employees of companies transporting the materials needed for public works construction or renovation projects – may not fall under the scope of prevailing wage law, since such employees may be performing work which is only incidental to the actual construction or renovation work.
Sometimes, however, work which may be a combination of transporting materials and participating in the construction or renovation work can still qualify as work for which prevailing wages must be provided. For example, work aboard tugboats which haul materials for public works bridge construction or renovation projects, but which also are integrated within the construction or renovation work (because, for example, such tugboats have to hold cranes in place) qualifies as prevailing wage work.
What Is the Prevailing Wage In California?
When controversies arise, people should seek the input of a prevailing wage lawyer in Sacramento because understanding the actual number involved with it can be somewhat complicated. According to the State of California, the prevailing wage is “determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, according to the type of work and location of the project. The prevailing wage rates are usually based on rates specified in collective bargaining agreements.”
Therefore, the prevailing wage for a certain type of work in Sacramento is likely to be different than what it would be in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego. As such, if you feel like you’re not being paid properly in this regard, it’s always a good idea to contact a prevailing wage lawyer actually in Sacramento for inquiries relating to Northern California. That will allow you to avoid having to deal with the calculations yourself and thereby minimize the risk that you make a mistake.
If you are an employee OR an employer with specific questions regarding prevailing wages, contact the Northern California based wage and hour experts at Goyette, Ruano & Thompson. We will help you determine if you’ve been wronged. If so, then we’ll help you plot your course for enforcing your legal rights. Every situation is different, every calculation is different and every form of potential liability is different. Act now to make sure that you’re getting sound advice from our firm, one of the best prevailing wage lawyers in Sacramento.
Have your prevailing wage case evaluated by our team of lawyers.