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wagejustice.org

Defending Workers, Building Justice

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How We Help Workers Fight Wage Theft

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Need Help Collecting Unpaid Wages?

Judgment Enforcement

If a court or the California Labor Commissioner ruled in your favor for unpaid wages, we can assist you in understanding your rights, taking appropriate action, and evaluating your chances of recovering the money you're owed. While a judgment confirms your right to payment, it doesn't guarantee you'll receive the funds. Let us help you navigate the process.


Education and Prevention

Learn How to Protect Your Wages

WJC offers training and resources to help workers and their supporting organizations understand wage theft. We provide information on how to minimize the risk of unpaid wages and prepare for action if faced with this issue.


Workplace Monitoring

Ensuring Compliance

If you suspect your workplace is violating wage and hour laws or is subject to monitoring due to past violations, WJC can help. We can assess your employer's practices to determine if they comply with labor regulations.


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Wage Liens for Construction Workers

Protect Your Earnings

If you're a construction worker who hasn't been paid for your labor, we can help you determine if you qualify for a mechanic's lien. This special legal tool can be used under specific circumstances to secure payment for your wages. Let us guide you through the process.


Outreach and Mobile Clinics

Bringing Legal Aid to You

We believe all workers deserve to know their rights and have access to support when faced with unpaid wages. WJC conducts outreach at day labor sites throughout Southern California and offers mobile clinics in select locations to provide workers with direct legal advice.

Interested in hosting a clinic or having WJC visit your area? Contact us today.


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DISCLAIMER: Contacting the Wage Justice Center does not establish an attorney-client relationship

 Call Our Workers' Rights Hotline:

213-294-2622

Important Notes: We cannot guarantee successful recovery.

Our services are limited. We prioritize assisting individuals who meet the definition of "indigent person" under California law, including those with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

WAGE THEFT FACTS

Wage theft occurs when employers fail to pay workers as required by law.


Examples of wage theft include:

  • Not paying workers at all
  • Paying below minimum wage
  • Failing to pay overtime
  • Denying meal and rest breaks
  • Not paying for required sick leave
  • Taking workers' tips
  • Paying with invalid checks or checks with insufficient funds
  • Breaking promises to pay later
  • Forcing employees to record fewer hours than they actually worked
WAGE THEFT CRISIS

Los Angeles is the wage theft capital of the U.S. Low-wage workers in the city lose $1.4 billion to wage theft every year, with workers in Chicago and New York not far behind. Together, these three cities account for $3 billion in wage theft annually.


In Los Angeles alone, at least 650,000 low-wage workers lose $26.2 million every week. The average amount of wages stolen is $40 per worker each week, which represents 12.5% of their total income. For workers earning under $20,000 annually, this amounts to an average loss of $2,070 each year. Many cases handled by the Wage Justice Center involve wage theft amounts far greater than this average.


STATISTICS

  • Nearly 55% of wage theft violations in Los Angeles are due to failure to pay minimum wage.
  • 43% of workers who report wage theft or try to unionize face retaliation, including firing, reduced hours, or verbal abuse.
  • According to the UCLA Labor Center, 83% of companies ruled against by the Labor Commissioner between 2008-2011 never paid back any wages owed.


 

   


WAGE THEFT RESEARCH

External link opens in new tab or windowThe UCLA Labor Center reviewed wage claim data from 2008-2011 

External link opens in new tab or windowUCLA Labor Center’s Report, Hollow Victories: The Crisis in Collecting Unpaid Wages for California Workers

External link opens in new tab or windowBroken Laws, Unprotected Workers:  Violations of Employment and Labor Laws In America’s Cities

External link opens in new tab or windowWinning Wage Theft: An Advocate’s Guide to State and City Policies to Fight Wage Theft

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The Wage Justice Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization | www.wagejustice.org

8605 Santa Monica, Blvd Suite, West Hollywood, California 90069 | 213.273.8400

DISCLAIMER: Contacting the Wage Justice Center does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

Information on this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.


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