When you think about being robbed, your thoughts may instantly turn to muggings on the street or a carjacking a bad neighborhood. Nonetheless, one of the most common acts of theft occurs in one of the most unexpected places—the workplace. And the culprit? The very employers who workers trust to give them a fair shake on payday. We’re talking about wage theft—a very real phenomenon that is very much against the law.
Have you been cheated of your fair pay at work? Wage theft takes many faces. If you’ve fallen prey to a dishonest employer who has effectively stolen your wages right out from under your nose, Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers wants to help. Give us a call right away to discuss your rights as an employee and how you can hold your employer accountable for your stolen wages.
The Many Faces of Wage Theft in California
According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, wage form in California goes well beyond the obviously illegal practice of paying workers less than the state-mandated federal minimum wage or failing to compensate workers for overtime pay (although these are both wage theft scenarios too). Wage theft can entail:
- Failing to pay agreed-upon wages to employees, including commissions and piece rate incentives
- Not allowing the use of paid sick leave or allowing sick leave to accrue
- Failing to pay promised bonuses or vacations
- Not paying split shift premiums
- Not paying out final wages to former employees in a timely fashion
- Unauthorized deduction from worker’s pay
- Failing to provide meal or rest breaks or cool-down or preventative breaks
- Taking tips from employees
- Not reimbursing employees for business expenses
- Issuing paychecks on an account with insufficient funds
- Failing to pay reporting time pay
- Refusing access in a timely fashion to payroll records and personnel files
Just in the City of Los Angles, workers lose approximately $26.2 million per week due to wage theft, according to the UCLA Labor Center. But wage theft is a crime. There are both federal and state laws prohibiting the practice. Those workers owed money by an employer can file a complaint, seeking a court order for the return of the stolen wages. Employers who fail to pay up face steep penalties and fines. An aggressive attorney experienced in the nuances of wage theft is instrumental in filing a successful claim and collecting from deadbeat employers.
You Don’t Have to Take It
State and federal laws are on your side when it comes to being paid fairly. Employers who steal from their employees may be a dime a dozen, but only through reporting their actions and filing claims against them does the wage earner stand a chance at holding them accountable for their greedy behavior. At Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers, we pride ourselves on being steadfast advocates for working Californians. Contact our Los Angeles employment law team to discuss your wage theft problem now. Call us at 310-527-6994 to discuss the details of your particular case and arrange a free case consultation.
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