FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 10, 2016) – In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of properly paying employees under Kentucky wage and hour laws, the Kentucky Labor Cabinet is beginning a “Monthly Unpaid Wages Report” to highlight the total amount of unpaid wages that have been collected and returned to Kentucky employees each month.
“Releasing the amount of wages collected is meant to signal our commitment to ensuring that hardworking Kentuckians get the wages that are owed to them under the law,” Labor Cabinet Secretary Derrick Ramsey said. “We want employees in the Commonwealth to understand that the Labor Cabinet stands ready to help recover and return wages improperly withheld from them. This report is important for employers as well, as it should serve as a reminder on the importance of knowing and fulfilling their obligations under wage and hour laws.”
In September, the Labor Cabinet recouped $205,972.61 in wages for Kentucky workers. This brings the total amount recovered for the year to $1,403,858.92.
Unpaid overtime, withheld final paychecks, illegal deductions of pay and lower pay than the legal minimum wage requirement are among the types of wage and hour violations that the Cabinet prosecutes. Other examples include misclassification of workers as independent contractors, unpaid breaks, time-clock shaving, mandatory tip-pooling and prevailing wage violations.
The Labor Cabinet’s Division of Employment Standards is responsible for enforcing Kentucky’s wage and hour, child labor and prevailing wage laws. Enforcement typically begins upon the receipt of a complaint. Investigators are then assigned to the case to determine compliance with the state’s wage and hour laws, monitor the correction of any violations, and collect back wages improperly withheld from employees. To find out more about the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws, please check the Division of Employment Standards website by clicking HERE. An Employment Complaint Form can be found HERE.
Additional information is available at http://labor.kentucky.gov.