Overtime/work problem, what should I do?

Question

I have some overtime coming to me on my next paycheck... I know a few people from here who have worked overtime, except they didn't get paid for it. What the boss did was apparently pay them their regular 80 hours (2 weeks) pay and then gave them a seperate check. On this seperate check was their regular wage, for the hours overtime they worked. No taxes taken out.

I'd like to do this the legal way and also not get screwed out of money, and get a real, legal overtime check. If I do get this kind of illegal overtime check, how do I confront the boss without him getting mad, and without getting fired? (people have brought up the idea that it might upset him and make him fire me if I question his ways)

Some other minor points about the boss and my job: The boss used to be a cop, so I THINK he might have some sort of respect for laws and our legal system, hopefully. Also a lot of non-English speaking people work here, so I think this illegal overtime thing is to screw them out of money since they don't really understand? He's said before things about giving them the jobs that they "can handle" and "understand" so maybe he assumes they won't question this under-the-table way of paying overtime.

Also:
1) I know it's illegal to fire someone over something like this, but there's always the possibility of my boss thinking up another reason, if he gets mad enough
2) The reason I think he'll be upset is that he's pretty old, and set in his ways, and always ALWAYS gets very mad when someone challenges him, or questions him

Answer 1

Call the wage and hour board. You can report him and request that your name not be disclosed. Sounds like he is violating both state and federal laws so the Internal Revenue Service would also be interested to know he is paying people without withholding taxes. This can also be anonymous.

Answer 2

The IRS would be up his butt faster than a mad hornet if they knew. It's called tax evasion and those that accept this separate check with no taxes taken out are also guilty unless they are claiming that as income.

Answer 3

you need to call the state department of industrial relations or wage and hour board. i do not think it will stop if u just ask him. but you can give it a try.