When employers do not provide their workers with the correct compensation for the hours worked and services provided, they have violated the law. Unfortunately, thousands of workers face wage theft every year, and their personal lives, financial lives and work lives can all suffer as a result. Fortunately, they can take steps to receive back pay and other compensation.
It was recently reported that over $35 million was returned to workers in New York in 2018. Approximately 36,000 workers in this state alone were affected by wage theft last year, and this number represents only those who were able to receive a portion of the wages returned. It could be presumed that numerous others were affected and did not receive their rightful compensation.
Nonetheless, Governor Andrew Cuomo indicated that since he took office in 2011, over $285 million had been paid to about 250,000 workers in the state who had not received their proper compensation. Last year, approximately 15,000 workers in New York City made up a portion of affected workers, and they received over $17 million of the $35.3 million recovered. The wage law violations took many forms, including only paying workers in tips and withholding final paychecks.
Any type of wage theft is unacceptable. Workers in New York and elsewhere should not have to suffer the wrongdoing of their employers after having put in their hard work. For individuals facing this type of injustice, it may be worth their while to explore their legal options for seeking the compensation they rightfully deserve. Speaking with experienced attorneys may put them on the right track.
