Quick background on my situation — any input appreciated.
wrongfully accused of misconduct. I've been dealing with this for about 2 months now and the situation isn't improving.
I have worked at this company for 6 years. My position is non-exempt and I do not have a written employment agreement beyond the standard offer letter.
Should I hire a lawyer for this or try to handle it myself?
NAL, but from what I've read, you should check your state's specific laws. Take the above with a huge disclaimer that I'm just some person on the internet.
I work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle.
Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.
I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.
Make sure you're within the statute of limitations for your state.
Document everything. Emails, texts, pay stubs - all of it. You'll need this if it goes to litigation.
In my experience, most employers settle once they realize you're serious about pursuing this.