The Connecticut Department of Labor has recovered more than $7.1 million in unpaid wages for workers in the state during the fiscal year that ended June 30 – an increase of approximately $1 million from the previous year.
A total of $7,147,775 was returned to workers, which includes nearly $1.79 million recovered by wage enforcement staff responding to complaints that owed wages had not been paid, said CTDOL Commissioner Scott D. Jackson.
Approximately $1.14 million was provided to employees that did not receive the required minimum wage or overtime, and more than $2.57 million was recovered for employees when it was determined workers were paid incorrect amounts while working at public contract construction sites, he said.
The unit also investigated 180 cases involving workplace standards violations. Inspectors cited employers in areas that include permitting night work of minors in manufacturing and mechanical businesses, improper work hours of minors, minors working in prohibited jobs, and personnel files practices, Jackson said.
During the year, wage investigators also issued 226 stop-work orders to employers that did not comply with workers compensation requirements and/or did not keep accurate pay records. In many cases, it was determined that employers misrepresented employees as independent contractors – a practice that causes an economic disadvantage to the employees and those companies that follow state and federal laws, DOL said.
