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

I've been trying to resolve this on my own but I'm stuck.

fired after reporting safety violations. I've been dealing with this for about 9 months now and the situation isn't improving.

I have worked at this company for 5 years. My position is 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?

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

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

This is a common situation and the law is fairly clear. Under the FLSA and state wage laws, compensable.

You should consult with a local attorney who handles these cases. Many offer free initial consultations.

I've dealt with this before.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is having everything documented. I'd recommend keeping a detailed timeline instead.

I've dealt with this before.

I ended up escalating to a supervisor/manager, which cost about $1-3 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

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

I went through almost the exact same thing.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it.

I had a similar issue and ended up consulting with an attorney. It was worth the $200-300 for the initial consultation just to understand my rights.