Ms. Brown, a mental health therapist, was supposed to be paid by the session. When she started working in July 2016, it seemed like a straightforward arrangement: she should submit notes at the end of each session to be paid for them. For the first month, this worked well. Things quickly changed.

Over the next two months, Ms. Brown kept submitting her write-ups but never received the wages she was due. Assuming a mistake had been made, she tried calling payroll several times and was given excuse after excuse. But when the employer stopped returning her phone calls, it was obvious that there was no mistake. 

Thanks to Rebekah Runyon of Eversheds Sutherland LLP (US), Ms. Brown received $905 in lost wages. And all Rebekah had to do was send the employer a letter!