Wage theft affects more people than EVERY other form of theft – and is costing hard-working Americans billions of dollars every year. That’s more than robbery and burglary combined! But what is wage theft, and how can you protect yourself?
Wage theft is when companies don’t pay workers the full amount they’re owed. This might not seem like a big deal, but it adds up over time. Even worse, many forms of wage theft are normalized – even though they’re illegal! You might even be a victim without knowing it.
The people most affected by wage theft are lower-income, hourly workers – who get exploited by employers all the time. But what even IS wage theft, and how do employers get away with it?
It can come in several different forms.
If you don’t get paid overtime even though you’ve worked over 40 hours, that’s wage theft! If you’re forced to come in early, or do extra before you clock in, that’s wage theft. If you’re forced to work on your break, or don’t get a break at all … that’s WAGE THEFT! And it’s illegal.
Everyone deserves to be paid fair wages for their work. If you think you might be a victim of wage theft, reach out to your local DOL office – go to www.dol.gov for more information!