this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2024
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Work Reform

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To combat pervasive wage theft in New York, three new bills were introduced in the legislature that would punish violators.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

Every time I look at wage theft stories and comments, I see people who don't understand their rights under current law. Y'all aren't helpless and getting robbed, you just don't know your rights.

Maybe a government funded ad blast would work better? Kinda like the "crying Indian" ad back in the day?

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The rules are intentionally vague and information is intentionally not easily available. Additionally, many workers are not in a position to claim their rights because they are living paycheck to paycheck and legal processes are expensive and last very long.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Most people don't know that literally all you have to do is tell the government about the issue and they will spend the money to look into it themselves, as well as dealing with the court cases. It's why the department of labor exists

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Unless your local government is the one commiting wage theft.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

God bless America...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The employee does not pay a dime to fight labor issues. State have their own Department of Labor for that.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I hope you never have to experience how hard it can be to actually get your money. And as I said, even if there is a case it can take a very long time before you see any money. For someone living paycheck to paycheck this can mean losing their house. Put the risk of losing your job for making a case on top of that (employment at will). I understand completely why many workers don’t do it. The system is made to work against them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

So what you just told me is that in 25 states businesses can do whatever they want to their workers. This needs to be national, like the NLRB, and it needs teeth.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Part of the problem is that even if there can't be any legal repercussions, it's easy enough for an employer to manufacture a reason to fire someone if they fight back against this sort of thing. So people fear being fired even if they have a right to file a complaint about it.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Where should a person go to learn their rights?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Department of labor has a lot of good resources.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good, fuck em hard and dry

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

YEAH! GET EM' RIGHT WHERE THE MONEY IS!