According to some reports, wage theft is one of the most common types of theft in the United States. In fact, these reports claim that it outpaces all other types of theft that can occur.
So why don’t you see more news articles about wage theft, as opposed to home robberies or car theft? Often, the issue is that it flies under the radar. Some employees do not even realize that they are losing wages that they were owed.
Additionally, wage theft is cumulative. An individual employee may only see minor losses, but if it is happening on a consistent basis and across many industries, it adds up significantly when you consider all types of wage theft together.
What are some examples?
There are many different ways that wage theft can happen, including:
- Not paying commissions and bonuses
- Not paying an employee’s final paycheck if they leave their job
- Paying someone under minimum wage
- Not paying time and a half for overtime
- Not paying properly for sick leave or paid time off
- Taking tips that were meant for an employee
In some cases, even the employees themselves may not be sure exactly how the law applies. For example, if employees are in a tip pool and the owner is included, it is technically wage theft because the owner is taking a portion of those tips. This is true even though the employees are still receiving tips themselves—they are simply not receiving as much as they are actually due.
Are you an employee who believes you may have experienced wage theft on the job? If so, it can help to work with an experienced attorney.
