So as you may have heard, the U.S. government officially entered a partial shutdown on Saturday, December 22. And regardless of whether you are a federal worker or are employed in the private sector, the question “Will I get paid during the government shutdown?” has definitely crossed your mind once or twice in the past few days.
You may have read on the Internet that under U.S. law, federal employees do not receive any payment for the work done during a government shutdown until after the shutdown ends. And it makes perfect sense why. The House and Senate failed to reach a consensus on a federal government-funding bill, which means there are no funds to pay wages due to the lapse in appropriations.
Will you get paid during the government shutdown
If you are one of those more than 420,000 federal employees who will be required to work during the government shutdown, you may wonder, “Will I get paid for the hours or days worked during the government shutdown? If so, when will this happen?”
“Federal workers who will continue working during the government shutdown in 2018 through 2019 will not get paid for the hours or days worked until after the shutdown ends,” explains our Los Angeles wage fraud attorney at JML Law. “Needless to say, nobody can say for certain when the government shutdown might end, even President Donald Trump himself.” Interestingly, President Trump has previously warned that the shutdown could last a “very long time,” according to NBC News.
If you are one of those 380,000 non-essential federal employees who have been put on furlough during the government shutdown, you are not guaranteed to get paid for the duration of the partial shutdown that began on December 22. However, let’s not forget that in the recent past, furloughed federal employees received back pay for the duration of the shutdown.
Our Los Angeles wrongful termination attorney also reminds readers that if you get fired during a government shutdown for an illegal reason, you may be able to sue the employer, regardless of whether you are a federal or private employee.
Will you get your next paycheck on time
But even if you do get paid during the government shutdown, will you get your paycheck on time? If you are one of those federal employees who follow a biweekly pay period schedule, you should be getting your next paycheck on time. That’s because of Saturday, Dec. 22, was the last day of the most recent biweekly pay period. However, do not be surprised if your paycheck does not include pay for any work done on Dec. 22.
As for health and other benefits, federal employees will continue receiving them even if they are placed on temporary leave during the government shutdown. Our Los Angeles wage fraud attorney explains that if you have been furloughed during the shutdown, you will either continue receiving health benefits or other benefits as usual or receive them when the shutdown ends.
Remember: if you get fired during a government shutdown, you may want to consult with a wrongful termination attorney in Los Angeles or elsewhere in California to find out whether or not there was an illegal reason for the firing. Schedule a free consultation with our lawyers at JML Law by calling at 818-610-8800.
