Dear Compliance Man,

I worked construction last year on a public job and I’m pretty sure I got paid less than what I was supposed to be getting. If I’m right and my former boss owes me money, how do I get it back? What happens to him if it turns out that he was breaking the law?

–Shortchanged in Somerset

Dear Shortchanged,

You’ve come to the right place! If you suspect that you’ve been paid less than the prevailing wage on a public job, the Foundation for Fair Contracting can help. Contact us by phone, email, letter or fax. We’ll discuss your complaint with you and send you the form and information you need to start the process.

Using whatever information we receive from you and the additional documents we’ve collected, we’ll help you assemble as complete a complaint as possible for transmittal to the state enforcement agency – the Office of the Attorney General. Their Fair Labor Practices Division will assign an investigator to your case who’ll determine whether and just how much money you’re owed. Your investigator might also contact you for additional information. The Attorney General will notify you of the outcome. You can contact the Foundation at any time during the investigation process for updates. The Attorney General may also issue a citation and additional penalties against your former employer.

How long does the process take? This often depends on how clearly you’re able to document your case. And the sooner you get started, the sooner you’re likely to get the money you are owed!

REMEMBER:  Always keep a log of all your jobs – hours worked, work performed, wage rates – and your pay stubs so that if you need to file a complaint, you’ll have the records you need! We’ll be happy to send you one of our Log Books; just call 1-877-507-3247, email us at info@ffcm.org, or fill out this electronic form.

For more commonly asked Compliance Man questions, visit the Compliance Man archives. Send your question to info@ffcm.org.