Compensation Below Minimum Wage
My question involves employment and labor law for the state of: Illinois.
My employer pays below minimum wage for me as well as our other employees. We work retail in sales. Regular sales reps get 412 bi-monthly base pay, I was recently promoted to a store manager and I am now getting paid a bi-monthly wage of 625 a month. Then you get paid commission on sales.
The company with a new employee pays you two weeks at minimum wage and then states you are an exempt employee. They give you $10,000 base pay for reg reps and for smaller store managers at $15,000 base pay and commission. We worked 6 day weeks for about 3 months, with no other compensation. We don't get designated break or lunch periods. Many times we work our whole shift through and bring food to eat between customers.
At this point I'm not sure what to do. I can't afford an attorney, but I am looking to see if one will help me and the other employees out. There would be five to seven of us seeking legal ramifications. If you would advise for me to seek counsel or who to contact I would appreciate it.