
Protecting Essential Workers
The Wage and Hour Division is committed to protecting and enhancing the welfare of the nation’s workforce while prioritizing low wage, underserved workers, and essential workers, advancing equity, and strengthening strategic partnerships to safeguard the workplace rights afforded by the federal labor laws.
Back Wages for Blanca
Blanca worked at a gas station that was also a taqueria preparing food, taking orders and serving customers. Our initial investigation recovered overtime back wages for Blanca and her coworkers, but her employer then tried to use his influence over them to keep a portion of the back wages for himself.
Back Wages by Industry
We work hard to ensure working people in the U.S. receive the wages and protections they've earned and that their work is respected. The following back wages are from fiscal year 2022.






A Server’s Plea for Help Leads to $1.2 Million in Back Wages
Read about Diego Jimenez, who worked long hours as a server at La Carreta Mexican Restaurant in Derry, NH for over four years. Diego regularly worked over 50 hours a week, serving customers and cleaning the restaurant, but the only compensation he received for his hard work were the tips paid by restaurant patrons.
Essential Workers, Essential Protections
Serving the Workers Who Serve Us
Ann came to the U.S. thinking she was pursuing a new and better life. She was recruited to work at Whispering Pines Inn, an Oklahoma bed and breakfast and restaurant. While at the inn, Ann’s duties included serving guests, cooking and cleaning for 70 or more hours per week. Her employers required that she live at the inn, and she was underpaid, in violation of federal law requiring minimum wage and overtime pay.

Workers Owed Wages
When we find violations, we often recover unpaid wages on behalf of employees. If we cannot find an employee, we hold their back wages for three years while we continue our efforts to locate them. After three years, if we remain unable to find the person, we are required to send the money to the U.S. Treasury.
In fiscal year 2022, we disbursed more than $9.1 million through the WOW system to more than 1,600 workers. See if you're due unpaid wages.
What Does $1,393 Mean
$1,393 represents multiple weekly paychecks to typical workers in many industries*

(*based upon BLS data for median wage rates and weekly hours per occupation)

7+ Weeks of Groceries

3+ Months of Utilities

1+ Month of Rent

7+ Weeks of Childcare
(*based upon BLS data for median wage rates and weekly hours per occupation)
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