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Top Five Questions Every Paralegal Should Ask When Receiving a Bonus

As a paralegal, you most likely work long and hard to assist the attorneys who fight for the rights of others. You are also most likely aware of the large amounts of money some of the clients pay to use the firm’s services. Because of this, it can be disheartening if you realize that your paycheck does not reflect that pay that you actually earned because your employer is trying to cut corners under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

One of the easiest ways for an employer to try and cut corners is through their bonus structure. Any time a bonus is given, it should typically be included in factoring the regular rate of pay for overtime calculation. The employer should add together the regular rate of pay for 40 hours and any bonus money, then divide that amount by 40 and multiply by 1.5 to determine the overtime rate.

One of the few times that the employer does not have to include the bonus is when he or she gives a Discretionary Bonus, which we discussed in our previous article on earning bonuses as a paralegal.

In response to this, the fair Houston overtime lawyers at Kennedy Hodges, LLP have compiled a list of questions that every paralegal should ask themselves when receiving a bonus to make sure that the employer is properly calculating overtime pay. Let’s take a look at these five questions:

1. Was I aware of this bonus before I received it?
2. Was this bonus already written into my contract?
3. Did my employer notify me of this bonus to get me to work harder?
4. Was this bonus used strictly as a way to reward me?
5. Did my employer ask for my input on what the bonus should be?

Don’t let the lure of a bonus overshadow the fact that a bonus miscalculation could be affecting your paycheck. Learn the facts and protect yourself by ordering a free copy of Kennedy Hodges’ free book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Wage and Overtime Claim, by calling 888.449.2068 today. If you think you may be dealing with an unfair situation, you can also tell us about it by filling out our online form, and an attorney from our office will get right back with you to schedule a free consultation.