Wage Theft Is Americas Hidden Workplace CrisisMisunderstood by Workers, Unreported by Victims, and Damaging to Employers

Verfico's new study exposes the alarming prevalence of wage theft—and its consequences for both companies and employees.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Verfico, a leading provider of digital compliance solutions to prevent wage theft, today released findings from its 2023 Verfico Survey: Wage Theft in America. The nationwide survey exposes the shocking lack of public awareness about wage theft and its consequences for companies and employees.

Verfico surveyed 1,000 adults from across the United States to gauge their general understanding and awareness of wage theft. After respondents were provided a definition and examples of wage theft—such as misclassifying workers as independent contractors, paying less than the minimum wage, failing to pay overtime, and requiring off-the-clock work—they were asked about their personal experiences and opinions on potential solutions.

Key findings of the survey include:

Wage theft is misunderstood by workers. Only 20% of survey participants could accurately define wage theft as an employer withholding a portion of a worker’s rightfully earned pay. Notably, nearly half as many respondents—10%—mistakenly believed wage theft refers to situations where employees steal from their employers.

Wage theft is unreported by victims. According to the survey, 38% of Americans have personally experienced wage theft (18%) and/or know someone who has (27%). This number is even higher in the construction industry, with 2 out of 5 construction workers reporting personal experiences and/or knowing someone affected by wage theft. Of those who have experienced wage theft, 57% said they did not report it to authorities, and of those who did, 39% were left empty-handed. The two most common reasons for not reporting wage theft were lack of knowledge (28%) and fear of reprisals (31%).

Wage theft is damaging to employers. While some employers engage in wage theft knowingly, many others do not—particularly in the construction industry, where a contractor’s visibility into the labor practices of subcontractors has traditionally been limited. Either way, employers risk serious criminal and civil penalities—as well as reputational damage. Fully 72% of respondents said they worried that construction companies that committed wage theft would cut other corners as well.

“This survey underscores the critical need for greater awareness and understanding of wage theft, especially in industries like construction,” said Matthew DeSarno, CEO at Verfico. “By embracing the right combination of education, technology, and public policy solutions, we can empower both employers and employees to take a stand against wage theft, ultimately fostering a more just and equitable workplace for everyone.”

Visit the 2023 Verfico Survey: Wage Theft in America at Verfico’s website for the complete survey results.

About Verfico

Verfico is a leading provider of digital compliance solutions designed to address the pervasive problem of wage theft in various industries. With a mission to protect the hard-earned wages of American workers and safeguard the reputation of honest businesses, Verfico is committed to developing innovative solutions that empower employers and employees to create a more just and equitable workplace. To learn more about Verfico and its commitment to combating wage theft, visit https://www.verficopro.com/.

Contacts

Christina Davies
cdavies@ideagrove.com

First published on Thu, Jun 1, 2023

Enjoyed what you read? Great news – there’s a lot more to explore!

Dive into our content repository of the latest tech news, a diverse range of articles spanning introductory guides, product reviews, trends and more, along with engaging interviews, up-to-date AI blogs and hilarious tech memes!

Also explore our collection of branded insights via informative white papers, enlightening case studies, in-depth reports, educational videos and exciting events and webinars from leading global brands.

Head to the TechDogs homepage to Know Your World of technology today!

Disclaimer - Reference to any specific product, software or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by TechDogs nor should any data or content published be relied upon. The views expressed by TechDogs' members and guests are their own and their appearance on our site does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by TechDogs' Authors are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of TechDogs or any of its officials. All information / content found on TechDogs' site may not necessarily be reviewed by individuals with the expertise to validate its completeness, accuracy and reliability.

Tags:

Verfico Mobile Computing Software Products Digital Compliance Solutions Developing Innovative Solutions

Join The Discussion

Computing

Wage Theft Is Americas Hidden Workplace CrisisMisunderstood by Workers, Unreported by Victims, and Damaging to Employers

Join Our Newsletter