One of the roles of The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the United States Department of Labor is to hold employers accountable for living up to U.S. labor laws. In that role, When WHD finds wage violations, they are sometimes able to obtain unpaid wages for employees.
If you believe that you may be owed wages, you can search WHD’s database to claim wages. If you find that you are due money, you can submit a claim. Begin by entering the employer’s name, then click “WOW Search”.
However, in many instances, the Workers Owed Wages (WOW) database may not list your employer or claim. In that case, if you believe you may be owed wages for worked performed, you ought to contact an attorney experienced in handling wage theft claims.
The Wage Authority Group was organized to help U.S. workers understand their wage and overtime rights and championing for workers who are owed wages by their employers.
Many workers don’t even realize that they are owed wages that their employers have unfairly failed to pay. We encourage you to explore our frequently asked questions page relating to unpaid wages.
Ultimately, to truly understand whether you may be owed wages by your employer, you should discuss the specific circumstances of your situation with an attorney that handles owed wage claims similar to yours. If you have questions relating to wages you may be owed for work you have performed, don’t hesitate to contact us. We may be able to shed some light on whether you may be entitled to unpaid wages due to your employer’s violation of wage labor laws.
There are a variety of jobs in which workers tend to be at greater risk of being a victim of wage theft. If you work in one of these jobs, it’s particularly important that you understand your rights as they relate to unpaid wages. Further, there are several types of wage theft. Too many employees don’t understand all of the forms that wage theft occurs. When this happens, they are unfairly taken advantage of by their employers. Again, if you feel that you may be owed wages for one these types of wage theft, it’s critical that you discuss your situation with an experienced attorney who has a practice focused on handling wage theft claims on behalf of employees.
While the Wage and Hour Division’s Workers Owed Wages (WOW) search tool can be a useful resource, you should not assume that just because your employer doesn’t appear there that you don’t have a valid claim to unpaid wages. Learn your rights. Protect your rights to wages to which you are entitled by contacting an attorney.