Can my boss do that?

Fueled by a deteriorating economy and rapidly increasing unemployment rates across the United States, wage theft by employers has become a concern across the nation. Those working at low-paying jobs are the most often hurt by wage theft because their employment may be at stake if they complain.

In Madison, Wis., a restaurant worker recently filed a complaint with the Madison Workers’ Right Center to recover $5,100 dollars in pay withheld by his employer. The worker was paid $50 per day, which is less than the Wisconsin minimum wage. He also did not receive pay for overtime nor did he receive any benefits.

Victimization of workers through wage theft needs to be stopped.

After a scuffle with the restaurant owner, the worker was threatened with either being laid off or a $100 per week pay cut. The worker refused the pay cut. Instead, he asked to be paid for the remaining two weeks of work he was owed. The owner refused, prompting the worker to file his complaint.

This Wisconsin restaurant worker is not alone in being victimized by his employer, a crime that continually is ignored. Victimization of workers through wage theft needs to be stopped, according to Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), a network of people of faith that works to improve wages, benefits, and conditions for workers. IWJ gives voice to workers, especially those in low-wage jobs.

IWJ estimates that $20-50 billion dollars per year are owed to workers.

Kim Bobo

IWJ executive director and founder Kim Bobo describes in her book, Wage Theft in America, the many ways employers steal wages. These include forcing employees to work “off the clock,” not paying for overtime, withholding a final paycheck, or refusing to pay at all.

Two to three million workers are not being paid minimum wage, according to Bobo, which exacerbates the situation. She said that about three million workers are misclassified as independent contractors.

Robbing workers of adequate pay infringes on their basic human rights and dignity. Proverbs 22:22 advises, “Do not exploit the poor because they are poor.”

To advocate on behalf of exploited workers, The United Methodist Church’s highest policy-making body, the General Conference, adopted a resolution last year that urges the U.S. Dept. of Labor to:

A three-pronged approach to combating wage theft is necessary:

1. Workers need to understand their rights;
2. Employers need to be educated about their responsibilities; and
3. Society needs to strengthen institutions to fight wage theft.

The last of these may be a problem because IWJ claims the Dept. of Labor cannot effectively address wage theft because the agency is underfunded.

IWJ is drafting legislation, “The Stop Wage Theft Bill,” and hoping it will be introduced to Congress this year. The bill will mandate pay stubs for workers, fix the statue of limitations of wage claims, protect workers from retaliation for filing complaints with government agencies, and provide resources to community organizations to partner with the Dept. of Labor to eliminate wage theft.

In addition, IWJ has developed a website, CanMyBossDoThat, specifically dedicated to putting an end to wage theft. The website is to enable workers and employers to educate themselves about wage theft and how to deal with it.

For more information on wage theft, read Bobo’s book Wage Theft in America, or visit on the web: Interfaith Worker Justice.

Editor’s note: The author of this article, Allison Bovell, is a summer intern at the General Board of Church & Society. Allison’s home is in Hixson, Tenn.. She attends Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama, where she is studying public policy.

Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) is an Advance Special of The United Methodist Church (#3020411). IWJ’s mission is to mobilize all religious communities in the United States on issues of economic justice, specifically those surrounding low-wage workers. IWJ contends that the way workers are treated is a moral issue.

This year, IWJ is working n two major campaigns: one against the national crisis of wage theft, and the other in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Both of these issues address situations that rob hard-working people of dignity and choice in the workplace, according to IWJ.

The Advance is an accountable, designated-giving arm of The United Methodist Church that ensures 100% of each gift reaches its intended mission or ministry. A tax-deductible gift may be given through a local church, include Advance number on check; online; toll-free hotline, (888) 252-6174; or mail to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068

You can also send a check to Interfaith Worker Justice at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60660. Donations can also be made online at Interfaith Worker Justice.