Working should be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Your employer receives your services, and, in turn, you collect wages to support your life.
While wage theft seems like it might be easy to recognize, it is typically not as simple as taking money from your paycheck. It is critical to recognize when an employer has misclassified your work or wages for their benefit.
Here’s what you should know about wage theft and what you should look for.
Recent wage theft stories
Late last year, there were two stories of California employers accused of wage theft. In one story, Angel Connection Nursing Care and Angel Connection Nursing Services were forced to compensate employees for unpaid wages after misclassifying employees as independent contractors.
In the other story, a school district was illegally deducting money from employee wages to cover state health care plans. The money for these plans is supposed to come from district funds, making this an incident of misuse that had been taking place for almost 25 years.
How you can spot wage theft
These recent incidents show that wage theft can come in various ways. It is essential to watch for signs that your employer may be underpaying you or misusing the deductions from your check.
You can avoid being a victim of wage theft by having a clear understanding of what type of worker you are and what that means for your wages. When you look at the deductions from your paycheck, your employer should have a clear and legal explanation of what each deduction means.
If you are unsure about your employment classification or the deductions from your pay, you should talk to a skilled professional.
