New Denver ordinance will allow wage theft victims to circumvent lengthy court process

The Denver Metropolis Council handed an ordinance Monday to assist victims of wage theft by permitting them to file a criticism with the town auditor slightly than going via the court docket system.

Victims of wage theft typically don’t search restitution due to costly authorized charges, a prolonged course of and worry of retaliation.

Below the brand new ordinance, after a criticism is filed, Denver Labor will examine. If wage theft is discovered, victims will obtain their withheld wages plus curiosity.

The ordinance applies to employees in any business and consists of unbiased contractors.

Below the brand new rule, Denver Labor has additionally been empowered to levy penalties on corporations and employers that don’t comply.

Maryland Roe, a house care employee for getting old adults, has been combating for unpaid wages for years with out progress and says one thing wants to alter.

“The federal board has dominated in favor of me, however I nonetheless haven’t been paid, and that was two years in the past. The place is the justice?” she mentioned.

Jordan Jones says unpaid wages by contractors is a big concern that stops carpenters from with the ability to put meals on their desk.

“There’s so many contractors who will take these earnings and (say), “Oh, come again subsequent week.” Nicely, I’m scared. I don’t need to unfastened my job, and I’ve double coming to me subsequent time. So, I keep,“ Jones mentioned.

The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce was the only speaker in opposition to the wage theft ordinance.

Councilman Kevin Flynn addressed companies’ involved concerning the penalties.

“I do know there are employers, contracts and corporations which are involved. However I need to inform them, I feel I discovered a loophole, and that’s to pay your employees each rattling cent they earn,” Flynn mentioned within the assembly.

Wage theft happens in some ways: an employer could refuse to pay an worker, deny extra time, or drive staff to work via authorized meal breaks. It may additionally happen within the type of unlawful deductions.

The highest business violators are lodging and meals companies, manufacturing, building and retail commerce.

“We have been engaged on this since 2019. And, you realize, we’re simply actually excited to get this handed as a result of wage theft continues to be the most typical type of theft nationwide. And on this time of extended financial downturn, it is simply actually crucial that the important employees that held us down through the pandemic are capable of receives a commission what they deserve and the wages owed to them,” mentioned Sofia Solano, an organizer with Colorado Jobs With Justice.

The Colorado Fiscal Institute says over 440,000 Colorado employees expertise wage theft. Colorado employers steal about $730 million from staff via wage theft yearly.