Wage Theft...Gimme a Break

Wage Theft Prevention Act - WTPA 

What is this Wage Theft Prevention Act stuff? 

It is a New York State debacle of, as Billy Fucillo would say, that is HUGE.  However its hugeness is not a good thing, like Billy’s sales and deals are.

Let’s break it down:

Wages = monies people get paid to work

Theft = the action or crime of stealing

Prevention = stopping something from happening

Act = doing something, taking action

So, we have the Act of Preventing the Theft of employee Wages.  Thought about literally, our illustrious politicians introduced and passed a law to prevent employers from stealing their employee’s wages.  Are you kidding me?  They are going to steal something that they gave them in the first place? Give me a break.

This Act requires employers to fill out a form to tell employees how much they earn. Really? You mean employees can’t be responsible enough to look at their paychecks to figure that out?

Not only do you have to give employees this form when they are hired, you have to give it to them all over again in January of every year.  And if you don’t otherwise notify them in writing when you change their wage, you have to notify them again at that time.

But New York State makes it easy for us; they give us multiple choice.  We have several forms to chose from.  So be careful to select the right one or the DOL will be after you.

And if you don’t notify your employees, in the right way, at the right times, with the right forms, you pay a fine.

What a wonderful source of revenue for New York State.  Come on New York please spend your time on something more important like ensuring your wage and hour division Department of Labor reps and investigators develop a personality and receive some sensitivity training.

Next blog:  The "Happy Campers" that staff the Syracuse office of the New York State Department of Labor wage and hour division