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The Problem: Unpaid Wages and Workplace Exploitation
Imagine working hard at your job, following every requirement set by your employer, only to find out that your paycheck doesn’t reflect the hours you actually worked. That’s exactly what happened to Tyler Minio, a former employee of a Gwinnett County car wash, who was denied wages he rightfully earned.
His story is one of many in Georgia, where workers sometimes find themselves at the mercy of business owners who ignore labor laws. But in this case, the law caught up with the employer—and he had no choice but to pay up.
The Scam: Clocking Out But Staying On the Job
According to Minio, the car wash’s owner required employees to clock out during slow periods while still remaining on-site. Later, they would clock back in when work picked up. This practice, known as “off-the-clock work,” is illegal under both Georgia and federal labor laws.
The Georgia Department of Labor confirmed that requiring employees to stay on-site without pay is unlawful. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), hourly employees must be paid for all time spent performing work-related duties—including waiting time when they are still required to be at the workplace.…