Sure, I know that some people are underpaid, but what does that have to do with me? Lots, according to an Economic Policy Report survey titled “Raising America’s Pay.” The study found that low-wage workers are cheated out of $1,500,000,000 (a LOT of zeroes!) per year due to labor violations. That’s 1/4 of a full-time worker’s weekly earnings. The amount stolen from workers adds up to more than the total for items stolen during auto thefts, robberies, and burglaries in the U.S.
This theft impacts all of us., in terms of taxes and other factors that affect the economies of state and local governments. Additionally, if employers get away with underpaying some people, it affects other workers by causing wages to decrease. Also, if these people were paid what they’re owed, the poverty level would drop by about 6%.
Read more details at “Employers Steal Billions from Workers’ Paychecks Each Year.”