Congressman Dan Goldman Works to Protect American Workers from Wage Theft
American Workers Lose at Least $50 Billion Annually to Wage Theft
Read the Bill Here
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today joined Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) in introducing the ‘Don’t Stand for Taking Employed American’s Livings (Don’t STEAL) Act.’ This legislation would make wage theft a federal felony, ensuring that these protections are in place for workers anywhere in the country.
“It is absolutely unacceptable for any employer to take advantage of their employees,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “American workers built the middle class, and the middle class built the foundation of this great nation. It is critical that Congress continue to stand alongside American workers in making sure they are simply paid for the work they do.”
Wage theft costs American workers at least $50 billion per year – far more than the value of all robberies, burglaries, and motor vehicle thefts combined.
While the vast majority of employers treat their workers fairly, a small number of bad actors often pay their workers less than promised, deny workers overtime, or steal tips. Wage theft disproportionately impacts low-wage workers, women and people of color. It harms local economies and reduces tax revenues.
Current federal laws on wage theft give bad actors a slap on the wrist for stealing their employees’ wages, and don’t adequately serve as a deterrent.
The ‘Don’t STEAL Act’ updates the penalties for wage theft violations to be commensurate with other forms of criminal theft under federal law:
Under this legislation, employers who willfully fail to pay their employees the wages they are owed, fail to compensate their employees for overtime work, or steal tips will face a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the severity of the crime. Under current law, employers who commit wage theft at most face a misdemeanor.
These changes will bring the penalties for wage theft to parity with other common forms of theft under federal law. Under current law, an employer who commits willful wage theft can be criminally fined no more than $10,000, but this bill would remove that cap and require bad actor employers to be fined in proportion to wages stolen.
This legislation is endorsed by AFL-CIO; Center for American Progress; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT); International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC); International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC); International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); Laborers International Union of North American (LiUNA); North America’s Building Trades Union (NABTU); North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC); Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA); Public Citizen; Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation Workers International Association (SMART); United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, and Service Techs (UA); United Auto Workers (UAW); and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
Congressman Dan Goldman has worked throughout his first term to fight for the rights of all workers.
In June of 2023, Goldman cosponsored the ‘Job Protection Act’ to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to protect millions of workers who are currently unable to take time off to care for themselves or their families. Gaps in FMLA coverage lead nearly 2.6 million workers every year who need family or medical leave to not take it because they fear they will lose their jobs if they do.
Last September, the Congressman cosponsored the ‘No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act.’ This legislation would classify corporate interference in worker organization campaigns as political speech under the tax code making any money spent in these efforts non-tax deductible.
Congressman Dan Goldman is a member of the Labor Caucus and proud cosponsor of the PRO Act.
###