Unpaid Wages / Overtime in hospitality — What Are My Options?

I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.

DOGE layoff with inadequate severance. I've been dealing with this for about 16 months now and the situation isn't improving.

I have worked at this company for 12 years. My position is exempt and I do have a written employment agreement beyond the standard offer letter.

What are the risks if I pursue this? What's the likely timeline?

Following this thread — I'm in a very similar situation. Would love to hear how it turns out.

Have you tried reaching out to your state's labor board? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

I specialize in this area of law. Here's my take on the legal issues.

Based on what you've described, you likely have a viable claim under the FLSA and state wage laws. The standard is whether a reasonable person would find the conduct compensable.

One important thing — there are strict deadlines for filing these claims. Don't wait too long.

Have you tried reaching out to your state's labor board? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

I went through almost the exact same thing.

In my case, it took about 2-4 months to resolve. The key was hiring an attorney to send the initial letter.