Wage theft worksheet
**Use this worksheet to estimate wages you may be missing** from unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, missed breaks, tip problems, or a short final paycheck. It is general educational information, not legal advice, and if you want advice about your situation you can [get matched for a free consultation](/get-matched/) with an independent employment attorney.
What this wage theft worksheet helps you do
If you think your employer did not pay you for all the time you worked, this worksheet can help you organize the numbers. Start with what you know: your pay rate, your schedule, the hours you actually worked, and any pay stubs, time records, or notes you kept.
You do not need perfect records to begin. Many workers only have text messages, photos of schedules, bank deposits, a calendar, or their own notes. Write down your best estimate and mark anything you are unsure about.
This tool is meant to help you prepare, not prove your claim by itself. Wage laws can be complicated, and the rules about overtime, tips, deductions, and deadlines vary by state and claim. You can also learn more about your basic rights and explore other tools.
What to list on your worksheet
Try to fill in these items week by week:
- Your hourly rate, salary, day rate, or piece rate
- The dates you worked
- Your scheduled hours
- The hours you actually worked
- Any unpaid time before clock-in or after clock-out
- Any missed meal breaks or required meetings
- Travel time between job sites, if applicable
- Cash tips, tip pooling, or tip deductions
- Any paycheck shortages, bounced pay, or unpaid final wages
Also note how the wages may have been taken from you. Common examples include:
- Working more than 40 hours in a week without overtime pay
- Being told to work off the clock
- Having time edited off your timecard
- Being misclassified as an independent contractor
- Being forced to buy tools, uniforms, or supplies if that dropped your pay below legal minimums
If you were paid in cash, that does not automatically mean you gave up your rights. Workplace pay protections often still apply, and for many workers they apply regardless of immigration status. For more background, see workplace rights for immigrant workers and rights for low-wage workers.
How to estimate unpaid wages step by step
Use simple math and keep each week separate. In many cases, overtime is calculated by the workweek, not by the pay period, but the exact rules can vary.
- Write down the total hours you actually worked each week.
- Subtract the hours you were paid for.
- Multiply unpaid regular hours by your regular rate.
- Multiply unpaid overtime hours by the overtime rate that may apply.
- Add any unpaid training time, meetings, setup time, closing time, or travel time that should have been paid.
- Add any paycheck shortages, unpaid final wages, or improper deductions.
If your problem involved extra hours before or after your shift, read how overtime pay works and off-the-clock work. If you think you were called a contractor when you were really an employee, see misclassified as a contractor.
Do not worry if you are unsure which rate applies to every hour. Put down your best estimate and note your questions. A licensed attorney can help you figure out what wage laws may apply to your situation.
What evidence can help support your estimate
You are not required to have a perfect file before asking for help. Still, it can help to make a simple list of where your numbers came from.
Useful examples may include pay stubs, direct deposit records, work schedules, screenshots of time entries, texts with a manager, photos of posted schedules, handwritten notes, mileage logs, tip records, or a calendar showing when you worked. Keep your own copy of anything you already lawfully have access to, but do not take or share confidential company information you should not have.
If you want to stay organized, use this worksheet together with our harassment documentation log only if retaliation or harassment is also part of the story, and read how to document workplace problems. Deadlines to bring wage claims can be short and vary by state and claim, so confirm timing with an attorney.
Your next step after you fill it out
Once you have your estimate, the next step is to talk with a licensed employment attorney about what your numbers may mean. Many employment attorneys handle wage cases on contingency and often offer a free consultation, but fees and case decisions are up to each attorney. WorkRightMatch is not a law firm and does not represent you. We are a free attorney-matching and educational service, and matched attorneys pay a flat fee to receive requests.
A worksheet can help you walk into that conversation prepared. It may also help you explain the problem clearly if your employer denied overtime, erased hours, kept tips, or did not pay your final check.
If you are ready, get matched for a free consultation with an independent, licensed attorney. You can also read what an employment lawyer does and free consultation: what to expect.
Add up the hours you worked, compare them to what you were paid, and write down your best estimate. Then [get matched](/get-matched/) to speak with an independent attorney about whether you may have a wage claim and what deadlines might apply.