The majority of lower-level employees say their companies regularly commit minimum wage, overtime and other violations, according to a recent survey of over 4,000 low-wage workers. Overall, 68% of respondents said they’d been the victim of at least one pay-related violation in the previous week.

Specifically:

1. 21% said they were paid less than the minimum wage in their jurisdiction
2. Of employees who worked more than 40 hours in a week, 76% said they were underpaid for their overtime
3. 70% of employees who came early or left late said they weren’t paid for the extra time, and
4. Among workers who had amounts deducted from their paychecks, 41% believed the deductions were illegal.

The average employee lost $51 as a result, the researchers said. With wage-and-hour complaints up 77% since 2004 (and more employees in need of extra cash), companies should examine their payment practices and train managers to make sure they aren’t in danger.

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More companies are being hit with suits over unpaid wages and overtime than ever before. Since 2004, wage-and-hour lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) have risen 77%, according to the National Employment Lawyers’ Association.

That same time period has seen an 11% increase in FLSA enforcement actions by the department of Labor. Some of the biggest problem areas being targeted:

1. unpaid overtime due to misclassification
2. requirements that employees spend their own money for company purposes (for example, buying uniforms or other equipment), and
3. supervisors altering time sheets to avoid paying OT.

In the past five years, employers have paid a total of $1.5 billion as a result of wage-and-hour suits. And with many employees working longer hours — and many people needing more money to make ends meet — FLSA compliance is more important than ever.