Many people may work in their chosen profession because they enjoy the work, even if it does not pay well. However, individuals in lower-paying jobs are still entitled to their earned wages, and in some cases, workers may not be receiving all the compensation they should. As a result, they may become victims of wage theft and face financial detriment.
New York readers may find such a case in another state interesting. Reports indicated that a company that runs multiple fitness centers is required to pay over $8 million due to improperly compensating trainers as well as other violations of labor law. According to an investigation conducted by the labor commissioner, it was discovered that trainers had been paid on a per-class basis when they should have earned hourly wages.
Trainers were also not compensated for time spent traveling from different facilities to conduct classes or time spent preparing for and cleaning up after classes. Employers also did not compensate workers for attending mandatory meetings, and other workers were not given meal or rest breaks. Workers were also not eligible for overtime pay due to receiving multiple paychecks from various work sites.
When employers do not properly follow laws regarding compensation, workers can suffer tremendous financial losses. If New York workers feel that they have experienced wage theft, they may wish to find out more information on their options for obtaining the proper compensation. In some cases, legal action may be necessary, and utilizing local legal resources may help concerned parties determine their best courses of action.
Source: clubindustry.com, “California Chain Camp Bootcamp Cited with $8.3 Million in ‘Wage Theft’ Violations“, Anthony Dominic, March 20, 2018
