New York State Launches New Hotline to Report Wage Theft and Recover Stolen Wages

Jul 25, 2022 | GTM Blog, Household Employer Policies, Newsworthy

On the success of its Wage Theft Task Force, New York has launched a new wage theft hotline and announced plans to develop a state-of-the-art online reporting system to create more opportunities for workers to report wage theft and receive what they are owed.

On the success of the state’s Wage Theft Task Force, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has launched a new hotline and announced plans to develop a state-of-the-art online wage theft reporting system to create more opportunities for workers to report wage theft and receive what they are owed.

The Wage Theft Task Force, and now the new hotline and online reporting system, aim to provide accessible reporting means for employees who have potential claims of wage theft including overtime wages, improper classifications, and meal breaks.

In response, families with household help should review their employment practices to ensure they are:

Classifying their workers as employees and not independent contractors
Paying at least the prevailing minimum wage rate
Compensating their employees at time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek (or 44 hours in a workweek if you employ a live-in worker)
Following the New York State Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights
Abiding by the Fair Labor Standards Act for non-exempt workers
Adhering to all applicable tax, wage, and labor laws for household employment in New York State

Household employees in New York can now report wage theft directly to the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) by calling the new hotline at 833-910-4378, which has interpretation services available. The online reporting system will give New Yorkers the ability to report wage theft online in a variety of languages while improving the NYSDOL’s ability to track complaints.

As we work to help New Yorkers recover from the economic hardship of the pandemic, we must ensure we are protecting workers and guarantee they receive the pay they are owed. I am proud that we are doubling down on our efforts in order to help more workers and make it clear that in New York, wage theft will never be tolerated. – New York Governor Kathy Hochul

The new, state-of-the-art Worker Protection Management System, will allow New Yorkers to report wage theft claims online in multiple languages and receive updates in real-time about the status of their claim. The $10 million project is set to be completed in 2023.

The Wage Theft Task Force initially leveraged criminal laws to achieve justice for construction workers in cases involving wage theft, fraud, and safety hazards. The Task Force has recently expanded its scope into other industries and counties in New York State. The Wage Theft Task Force includes NYSDOL, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), the Offices of District Attorneys across the State, and the New York City Department of Investigation.

GTM can help

Need help with household employment compliance? GTM’s nanny tax and payroll service will help you comply with minimum wage, overtime, and other tax and wage laws including paid leave, disability insurance, and more. For assistance with labor laws, GTM’s PHR-certified human resources advisor can work with you on compliance as well as consult on personnel management, employee benefits, and more. HR services are an additional cost to any nanny payroll service through GTM. For more information, call (800) 929-9213 for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with one of our household employment experts.