Lawmakers Want To Crack Down On Bosses Who Steal Money From Their Workers
Mar 17, 2016 07:45:47 #
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/03/16/3760779/wage-theft-congress/
Employers steal far more money from their employees than robbers steal from victims. On Wednesday, lawmakers will introduce a bill aimed at tamping down on the wage theft epidemic.
Democratic Sens. Patty Murray (WA) and Sherrod Brown (OH) with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT) will unveil the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act, a bill that would beef up existing protections and add some new provisions to make it less appealing for the countrys bosses to stiff workers on wages by refusing to pay at least the minimum wage, denying overtime pay, making people work off the clock, stealing tips, or illegally misclassifying them.
The legislation would do a number of things, but chief among them is increasing how much workers can demand back from cheating employers and making the penalties for cheating stiffer. Currently, workers can only seek back pay at the minimum wage, even if their hourly rate is above that, but the bill would allow them to recoup their full compensation. Employees could also seek triple the wages theyre owed in damages, which is currently limited to double their wages, plus interest on what they were supposed to be paid. The lawmakers also propose increasing current civil penalties and creating new ones for violating minimum wage and overtime laws, cheating on record keeping, and repeating willful violations.
Employers steal far more money from their employees than robbers steal from victims. On Wednesday, lawmakers will introduce a bill aimed at tamping down on the wage theft epidemic.
Democratic Sens. Patty Murray (WA) and Sherrod Brown (OH) with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT) will unveil the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act, a bill that would beef up existing protections and add some new provisions to make it less appealing for the countrys bosses to stiff workers on wages by refusing to pay at least the minimum wage, denying overtime pay, making people work off the clock, stealing tips, or illegally misclassifying them.
The legislation would do a number of things, but chief among them is increasing how much workers can demand back from cheating employers and making the penalties for cheating stiffer. Currently, workers can only seek back pay at the minimum wage, even if their hourly rate is above that, but the bill would allow them to recoup their full compensation. Employees could also seek triple the wages theyre owed in damages, which is currently limited to double their wages, plus interest on what they were supposed to be paid. The lawmakers also propose increasing current civil penalties and creating new ones for violating minimum wage and overtime laws, cheating on record keeping, and repeating willful violations.
Mar 17, 2016 08:46:13 #
nakkh wrote:
Some Florida counties, Pinellas and Hillsborough, have similar programs. I contacted them on an employer that owes me over $1500 in wages and they referred me to the Federal Dept of Labor. They are currently contacting the employer.
From what I understand, the county agencies do not have enforcement powers. They can request payment but if the employer refuses, it must go to mediation and then possibly small claims court (which costs $250 to file).
Although many employers may pay, there are some who will simply refuse. I fear I may have encountered one. This one has a couple hundred previous charges and a stint in prison for fraud over $100,000.
I ran a computer search on him and his company before accepting employment, but I used what I assumed was his Christian name, Benjamin, where the offenses were listed under the shortened Benny Calzon.
Live and learn.
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