1600 indiana workers owed 1 2 million in back wages us dept of labor
The U.S. Department of Labor has found that more than 1,600 workers in Indiana are owed a big sum of money – over $1.2 million in back wages.
This situation came up because some employers didn’t follow labor laws correctly. To fix this, the Department’s Wage and Hour Division worked to get this unpaid money back to the employees.
The main issue is that a lot of this money hasn’t reached the workers it belongs to. Why? Well, several workers who should get this money can’t be found. There are various reasons for this.
Some workers might have changed jobs or moved to new places and didn’t update their contact details. Others might have changed their names. And sometimes, employers don’t keep the necessary contact information.
The Department of Labor doesn’t want this money just to sit there unclaimed. They can only keep it for three years. After that, it goes to the U.S. Treasury Department.
To prevent this, they’ve set up a special online tool called “Workers Owed Wages” or WOW. This tool is designed to help workers find out if they have any money waiting for them. It’s a straightforward way for people to check and claim what they are owed.
Here’s how it works: Workers can go to the Department of Labor’s website and use the WOW system. It’s available in both English and Spanish.
When you use this tool, you’ll answer some questions to see if there’s any money for you. If it turns out you are owed wages, the tool will guide you on how to get your check. And if you need help, they can talk to you in over 200 languages.
So, if you think you might be owed back wages, or you know someone who could be, it’s a good idea to check out this tool. You can find it by visiting the Department of Labor website. Remember, it’s important to claim this money soon, as it won’t be available after three years.