Wage theft is a serious issue that affects many individuals in Colorado and across the country. Wage theft occurs when workers are not properly compensated for the services they perform, and this type of theft could take place under various conditions. Victims of such actions may wish to consider filing a wage and hour claim.
Reportedly, wage theft causes workers to lose billions of dollars every year. As a result, workers and their families could seriously suffer due to not having enough income to provide for their needs. Some individuals may not even have the ability to buy food or pay their rent because their employers willfully evade their lawful responsibilities.
Workers could be victims of wage theft if they are paid below minimum wage, are not paid for overtime or are misclassified as independent contractors when they are actually employees. Workers in low-wage jobs are particularly vulnerable to such actions, and unfortunately, immigrant workers are also at risk of wage theft because employers may believe it is easier to take advantage of them. Some employers may feel it is more important to efficiently produce goods rather than ensuring that their workers are properly compensated.
If Colorado workers feel as if they have been the victims of wage theft, it may be heartening to know that there are laws in place that protect them. Filing a wage and hour claim could help individuals work toward gaining the compensation that they are rightfully owed. Interested parties may wish to speak with experienced attorneys in order to determine whether filing a claim could be right for their circumstances.
Source: commonwealthmagazine.org, “Time to crack down on wage theft“, Darlene Lombos, June 16, 2016