The number of federal wage and hour violations, as well as the amount of back wages being unfairly withheld, has increased over the past several years, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL). Since wage and hour disputes are among the most common types of labor disputes, experienced New York construction union attorneys keep a close eye on these numbers as a way to track whether enforcement and education efforts are working.
According to the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) statistics on enforcement, in 2009, employers found guilty of wage and hour violations paid back wages of over $172 million. In 2010, that number jumped to $176 million, and by 2014, employers were paying over $240 million in back wages to over 270,000 employees.
Fewer complaints were registered over this five-year period: in 2009, wage and hour complaints totaled 26,311, while in 2014 only 22,557 complaints were filed. However, the increase in back wages paid over the same time period indicates that the dollar amount of the average complaint had increased.
The number of cases involving overtime wage violations, however, has dropped slightly since 2012. In 2014, 11,238 overtime violations were filed, compared to 12,462 such cases in 2012. However, both years stood out when compared to 2009, in which overtime complaints totaled 8,792 wage and hour violation cases.
At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, our experienced New York construction labor union lawyers can help you challenge a wage and hour violation in order to ensure you receive the pay you have earned through your hard work. Contact us today to learn more.