ARE YOU OWED WAGES?

Yes. If you're an hourly employee, unpaid overtime happens when your employer doesn't pay you for all the hours you worked beyond the standard 40‐hour workweek. Oregon follows federal overtime standards, entitling you to 1.5 times your regular rate for all hours over 40 in a workweek. This may include off‐the‐clock tasks, being told to “finish up” after clocking out, or being misclassified as exempt even though your job duties qualify you for overtime pay under Oregon law.

No. Oregon law requires employers to provide a 30‐minute unpaid meal break for shifts of six hours or more, plus a paid 10‐minute rest break for every four hours worked. You must be fully relieved of all duties and allowed to take your break without pressure, monitoring, or being called back to work. If your employer forces you to work through breaks, shortens them, or discourages you from taking them, that is a potential wage‐and‐hour violation under Oregon law. You may be entitled to compensation for every missed or interrupted break period.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to recover unpaid wages, overtime premiums, missed break penalties, and damages under the Oregon wage laws. Oregon law provides for a penalty of up to 30 days of additional wages if your employer willfully fails to pay you on time upon separation, and attorneys’ fees and costs may also be recoverable. Additional penalties may apply if your employer knowingly violated wage laws or failed to maintain accurate payroll records. Our legal team can help you evaluate what you’re owed and ensure your full rights under Oregon state law are protected.