Regardless of the field you work in, it is essential to stand up for your legal rights concerning compensation. Whether you do not receive overtime pay or you experience minimum wage violations, employers who fail to follow the law and respect the rights of their employees must answer. Moreover, many workers struggle with back wages, and they deserve justice.
Reviewing statistics on back wages sheds light on the prevalence of this problem, and this issue affects workers in a wide variety of fields.
Data on back wages in various industries
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, over 24,700 compliance actions took place over the fiscal year 2021 as a result of back wages. During this period, health care workers had over $38 million in back wages, while construction workers saw more than $36 million in back wages. Foodservice workers struggled with over $34 million in back wages over the fiscal year 2021, while those in the retail industry had over $13 million in back wages.
Understanding the impact of back wages
The DOL helped workers recover over $230 in back wages in the fiscal year 2021. Over 190,000 workers received assistance from the DOL, and workers and employers need to understand the different hardships that back wages can create. For example, employees who do not receive the wages they deserve can struggle to pay rent, buy food and cover costs associated with child care.
If you have experienced any type of wage and hour violations, you need to look over your options and pursue the compensation you deserve.
