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The Wage Theft / Worker Misclassification Movement

Jim Kollaer's picture
by Jim Kollaer | September 22, 2010

Twenty-three states - make that thirty - have signed Wage Theft and/or Worker Misclassification bills into law as the focus in a number of legislatures has swung to the issue that is costing workers and taxing agencies billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Two bills, The Fair Playing Field Act, SB 3786, introduced by Senator Kerry and a number of cosponsors last week, together with The Employee Misclassification Prevention Act, HR 5107 will, when passed, crack down on those employers who do not pay overtime or who pay subminimum wages or misclassify workers as independent contractors when they are not.

The following states are ahead of Congress again and are part of the overall movement to address this widespread worker crime:

  1. California
  2. Colorado
  3. Connecticut
  4. Delaware
  5. Florida
  6. Illinois
  7. Iowa
  8. Kansas
  9. Kentucky
  10. Maine
  11. Maryland
  12. Massachusetts
  13. Minnesota
  14. Missouri
  15. Nebraska
  16. Nevada
  17. New Hampshire
  18. New Jersey
  19. New Mexico
  20. New York
  21. Ohio
  22. Oregon
  23. Pennsylvania
  24. Tennessee
  25. Texas
  26. Utah
  27. Vermont
  28. Washington
  29. West Virginia
  30. Wisconsin


Other states are considering similar laws and will likely enact them after the midterm elections in November or next year when the state legislatures are back in session.

The big question is how will they be enforced?

Updated 08/23/2013


Comments

Administrator's picture

Submitted by Administrator on Thu, 09/23/2010 - 9:13am
Anonymous's picture

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 09/23/2010 - 2:56pm

You can add to the list: Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin. They have adopted anti-msiclassification/payroll fraud laws. These laws can only help law-abiding employers, especially in the construction industry, who are struggling to survive against the cheaters.

Administrator's picture

Submitted by Administrator on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 5:45pm

Thank-you for your comment. We will add these states to the list. Please click on Get Involved and send us your contact information. We would love to hear from you.

Administrator's picture

Submitted by Administrator on Sat, 10/02/2010 - 5:58pm
Administrator's picture

Submitted by Administrator on Tue, 10/19/2010 - 3:19pm

As of Oct 13, 2010, Pennsylvania has joined the list!

Administrator's picture

Submitted by Administrator on Thu, 08/08/2013 - 3:36pm

California’s Wage Theft Prevention Act was signed by Governor Jerry Brown and went into effect on January 1, 2012.

Tennessee’s HB 551/SB 833 was signed by Governor Bill Ketron and went into effect on July 1, 2013.

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