Legal Options to Fight Wage Theft

Use these links to jump to different sections:

• Wage Theft Example 1: Forcing Employees to Share Tips
• Wage Theft Example 2: Worker Misclassification
• Wage Theft Example 3: Paying Under-the-Table
• Who Does Wage Theft Affect the Most?
• How Can You Protect Yourself From Wage Theft?
• Get an Attorney to Write Demand Letters
• Bringing a Wage Theft Lawsuit
• Find an Experienced Employment Lawyer To Discuss Your Wage Claim

Wage theft—the unfair practice of withholding pay from employees, often by not paying minimum wage or overtime—affects millions of workers to the tune of billions of dollars in the U.S. each year, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

In New York, it’s so widespread that in 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a crackdown that includes a hotline for victims to report violations.

In 2023, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. launched a new department to pursue criminal charges against employers accused of the practice.

Wage Theft Example 1: Forcing Employees to Share Tips

“Wage theft is a very common occurrence in every industry, sometimes out of ignorance from the employer and sometimes through purposeful mistreatment of employees,” says Darren Rumack, a partner with The Klein Law Group who practices employment law in New York City.

Some forms of wage theft happen in subtle ways.

Rumack recently handled a case against coffee shop owners who forced employees to share tips with the manager and kitchen workers, supposedly thinking it would create a more equitable workplace.

“That’s illegal under both New York state and federal law,” Rumack says. “The manager had control over the employees’ hiring, firing, and scheduling. And secondly, he only worked in the kitchen and had no customer contact.”

Wage Theft Example 2: Worker Misclassification

Kenneth Katz, an employment litigator with Katz Melinger in NYC, describes a different type of management faux pas: when a manager-in-name-only, or other misclassified worker, gets saddled with extra, uncompensated hours.

“They just are sort of the person to go to if there’s an issue with something in the restaurant for the day. But really, the owner of the business is the one who supervises and controls everything. Because of the [manager] title, they’re claimed to be exempt from overtime.”

Wage Theft Example 3: Paying Under-the-Table

Paying employees under the table can also open the door for wage theft.

Rumack recently represented a construction worker who logged well over 40 hours a week but was paid a flat rate in cash. “We filed a lawsuit and resolved the case in mediation where the employee got nearly 100 percent of his backpay claims that day,” he says.

Who Does Wage Theft Affect the Most?

Not surprisingly, wage theft disproportionately affects undocumented workers, who are often afraid to fight back for fear they’ll be fired, demoted, or reported to immigration officials.

But, says Katz, the offending employer is actually at greater risk. “I’m not sure that the government would care so much that the person is undocumented as much as that you’re paying people off the books and not paying taxes.”

How Can You Protect Yourself From Wage Theft?

So what can you do to protect yourself against wage theft? And what if your employer refuses to pay you what you’re owed?

Keep Track of Your Pay Stubs

First, keep track of the amounts you receive and whether there’s underpayment compared to what you should be receiving.

Try Talking to Your Employer About the Issue

You could then try talking to your employer.

“In general, that doesn’t usually change things,” Katz admits. “These employers either know they’re not doing it right and aren’t going to change it all of a sudden or don’t realize they’re not doing it right and aren’t looking to change based on one employee complaining.”

Request an Investigation

You can also file a request for the New York Department of Labor to investigate. But be prepared for a long wait—up to several years—due to backlog.

Get an Attorney to Write Demand Letters

Another option is to hire an attorney to write a demand letter. Generally, employers take your case more seriously if you have legal counsel.

Bringing a Wage Theft Lawsuit

If none of this works, the attorney can sue on your behalf or as part of a collective action (similar to a class action) with other underpaid workers.

Not long ago, Katz settled a case for $275,000 for a group of 10 restaurant employees. The lead plaintiff, who had one of the stronger claims, walked away with about $60,000 after legal fees. Another, who was living in a homeless shelter, “now has $15,000 that he should have made years ago, which obviously would be significantly helpful for him to get back on his feet,” says Katz.

Most wage theft lawsuits are filed in federal court, partly because the process there tends to move at a faster pace. “The federal judges see enough of these cases that they generally understand the claims very well,” Katz says. “Litigation, if you have a good case, weirdly, is often the fastest way to actually get a resolution. They know how these cases operate and they want them to move to settlement quickly.

“Very rarely do they go to trial,” he adds. “Very rarely, even if you went to trial, does someone lose a case, because [the employer] is usually in clear violation of the law.”

Find an Experienced Employment Lawyer To Discuss Your Wage Claim

If you suspect that you’ve been a victim of wage theft through unpaid wages, withheld overtime pay, or other wage & hour violations, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced employment & labor law attorney with experience litigating wage theft cases.

For additional information about wage violations and workers’ rights, see our overviews of wage and hour laws and related content on employment law.