The rules are intentionally vague and information is intentionally not easily available. Additionally, many workers are not in a position to claim their rights because they are living paycheck to paycheck and legal processes are expensive and last very long.
I hope you never have to experience how hard it can be to actually get your money. And as I said, even if there is a case it can take a very long time before you see any money. For someone living paycheck to paycheck this can mean losing their house. Put the risk of losing your job for making a case on top of that (employment at will). I understand completely why many workers don’t do it. The system is made to work against them.
Proposed Wage Theft Legislation Would Strip Violators of Ability to Do Business ( documentedny.com )
To combat pervasive wage theft in New York, three new bills were introduced in the legislature that would punish violators.