Home Checklists Before you file a wage claim with the Department of Labor Before you file a wage claim with the Department of Labor What to gather before filing a claim for unpaid wages with the New York State Department of Labor. Your own records count.
How to use it Tick what you already have, then print or copy the list; your ticks are remembered in this browser. “Required” items are needed by law or by the process; “Recommended” and “Optional” ones help depending on your situation.
Your employer's business name, address, phone number, and the owners' or managers' names Required The dates you worked, your job, and your rate of pay Required A record of the hours you worked: calendars, texts, app screenshots, photos of schedules Required If your employer kept poor records, your own notes can be important evidence Your calculation of what you're owed, week by week Required Pay stubs, checks, bank deposits or cash records Recommended The written wage notice you got when you were hired, if any Recommended New York employers must give one; not giving it may matter to your claim Messages with your employer about pay Recommended Names and contact details of coworkers who know your hours Optional Notes of any threats or punishment after you asked about pay Optional Retaliating against a worker for complaining about wages is illegal in New York File as soon as you can Recommended State wage claims can generally reach back up to six years, but records and memories fade 0 of 10 checked Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
This checklist is general information, not legal advice. If a case is already in court or a deadline is close, talk to a lawyer or legal aid.