New York and New Jersey Employment Lawyers
Being a golf caddy is a hard job, working long hours, often under the blazing sun. Yet golf clubs often illegally pay golf caddies. Many don’t pay them at all. This is unacceptable. It is important to know your rights.
Many golf clubs break the law by classifying caddies as independent contractors. Clubs do this for many reasons, including trying to avoid paying overtime. Caddies are employees and are entitled to all of the rights that come with that.
New York and New Jersey law require golf clubs to pay caddies at least the minimum wage for every hour worked. This includes the time you spend waiting to be assigned to a golfer. The minimum wage varies depending on where you are working: $11.30 per hour ($12 per hour for some) in New Jersey; $15.00 in New York City; $14.00 in Long Island and Westchester; and $12.50 for the rest of the State of New York.
New York and New Jersey law require that you be paid one and one-half times your regular hourly rate for every hour you work over 40 in a week. This is often called “overtime pay” or “time and a half”. For example, if your hourly rate is $15, you should get paid $22.50/hr. ($15 x 1.5) for every hour you work over 40 in a week. Work time includes the time you were required to be at the club waiting for your golfer, not simply the amount of time you carried the bag.
Under New York and New Jersey, you are entitled to keep 100% of your tips. If you had to tip out the caddy master, for example, that is illegal.
If you are owed minimum wages or overtime premium pay, you are almost certainly also entitled to recover liquidated damages. In New York, that means 2x the wages you are owed. In New Jersey, that means 3x the wages you are owed in New Jersey.
It is important to act quickly if you believe you are owed money, as the statute of limitations is running on your claims. Do not wait.
If your golf club owes you money, Lipsky Lowe’s experienced Wage & Hour attorneys can help. Call us today at 212.518.1502 or contact us online.
Lipsky Lowe LLP
212.518.1502
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1830 New York, NY
If you’re unlucky enough to need an employment lawyer, this office is an excellent choice. During my case they were very sensitive and smart, and always easily available when I needed them which really mattered A LOT during the very stressful process. Glad to have them representing me and definitely happy to post a good review. Give them a call.
Lipsky Lowe LLP
212.518.1502
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1830 New York, NY
Doug is a tremendously talented labor and employment attorney. Perhaps more importantly, his calm and assuring demeanor helped me handle the stress of multiple layoffs over the course of a 3 year-period. Doug knows the law, knows how to communicate it to you and clearly presents your options and negotiation points with both negotiating an offer letter and with handling a termination without cause and making sure your rights are protected in your separation agreement.
If you have a need for a labor and/or employment lawyer, Doug should be your first call. You will not regret it."
Lipsky Lowe LLP
212.518.1502
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1830 New York, NY
One thing that seems to get lost on a lot of folks in law school and after is that knowing the technical aspects about the law is one thing, being practical about it is another. The fine folks at Lipsky Lowe have demonstrated that they go beyond a mere grasp of the legal issues, they can think commercially and strategically too. There's no one size fits all approach: they listen to the facts of your particular situation and then devise a strategy and recommendations based on those facts and your goal. Couldn't say enough good things about these guys. Highly recommend.
- We take cases to trial, not just to settle
- We know how the other side thinks
- We are ready to dedicate as much resources as necessary to each case
When you come to us with your employment issues, you are seeking counsel from trustworthy, experienced employment attorneys who have worked collaboratively for many years. Initially, Doug Lipsky and Chris Lowe worked together at the New York office of a premier nationwide labor and employment law firm. When they decided it was time to open their own practice, they became co-founding partners of Lipsky Lowe.
Lipsky Lowe is a first-rate employment law practice with a well-earned reputation for competence and compassion. We have the legal knowledge and extensive experience to help you through any legal difficulties relating to employment, including situations in which you have suffered injustices involving discrimination, sexual harassment, unpaid overtime, retaliation, or wrongful termination. When your work environment becomes hostile, we are here to take your side.