Cases
of employers refusing to pay overtime wages and employees not taking
action against it are a normal thing in the work places. Employees
may not realize it but psychology plays an important role in
increasing the risk of unpaid wages. Human psychology affects the way
workers behave in the work place in different situations, whether
they are good or bad.
Following
factors in the workers’ psychology increases the risk of unpaid
wages –
Human
are social creatures
– It is a common phrase that humans are social creatures. It is in
their nature to live in groups and try to fit in these groups. In
offices, these human psychology forces employees to try to perform
better even in worse situations. Workers try very hard to socialize
with others, no matter how hard the conditions are for them. When
workers do not take any action against the first unfair situation, it
encourages employers do it again and again. It can start with forcing
to spend some extra hours in office on a weekend without payment, and
can go up to the worse conditions like bosses refusing to pay entire
week’s overtime.
If
no one else is objecting, then why should I –
It is another characteristic of human psychology. Usually, when we
see that others are not objecting over unfair conditions, we too
refrain from taking any action against it. Slowly, it becomes an
unspoken rule of the work place. It can lead to unpaid wages since
bosses see that their workers do not complain.
People
are habitual
– We get used to things/situations in a very less time. Not getting
paid for the worked hours or overtime slowly becomes a habit.
Loyalty
is in human nature –
After working for several months or years in the same office,
employees become loyal to the company/boss. It becomes hard for them
to protest or sue the company, even in case of unfair conditions.
People feel compelled to continue working for their boss even if they
are not getting paid fairly.
Due
to above mentioned characteristics of human psychology, employees
risk being wage victims. If you are not getting paid according to
your work hours or extra time, contact overtime lawyers
to help protect your rights.
