We could probably make a lot of progress by educating people concerning their rights. Every instance of wage theft I read about is people being ignorant. Learned a lot working for a payroll company, think most would be surprised how the law actually works.
The biggest problem is that it's classed as a civil issue, not a crime.
I steal from my employer: they call cops, I go to jail. Very simple.
My employer steals from my paycheck: I have to call a lawyer, they have to agree to take my case, we have to sue, employer produces fake payroll documents, I better have proof of what my real pay should have been, we have to go to mediation, figures are exchanged, employer claims they can't pay the full amount without going bankrupt, have to take a settlement, lawyer takes at least a third of that. Big pain in the ass, no guarantee you'll see a dime. Even if employer pays you back, they can go right back to screwing the rest of their employees over.
Or, the company keeps withholding documentation until your own money runs out. They know how it's played, and unless you get your local Department of Labor involved (if indeed you even have a DoL that's not just countywide or whatever), they know that they can just run the clock out by withholding documents, delaying court dates, etc while remaining well within the "oh we just plain forgot your honor" line.
My lawyer friend tried to explain it to me before, but I still kind of don't get why civil and criminal law is split. That seems unnecessarily complicated.
Anyway, the answer is probably unions, where the unions make it clear they know where management sleeps at night.
Only 1 in 4 repeat wage theft offenders get fined, despite violating federal wage laws more than once.
The prevalence of wage theft is a stark reminder of the need for stronger enforcement of labor laws and increased protections for workers. It is a moral imperative for policymakers, labor advocates, and the public to prioritize this issue and hold employers accountable for their illegal actions.
Wage theft is not just a financial crime; it is a violation of the fundamental rights and dignity of workers. Until this epidemic is addressed, the promise of a fair and just workplace will remain elusive for millions of Americans.
