The Biden-Harris administration announced this week that the Department of Labor has recovered more than $1 billion in back wages and damages for workers since the start of the Biden-Harris administration.
“As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to protect and defend America’s working people, the Department of Labor has recovered more than $1 billion in back wages and damages—achieving both justice and economic relief for more than 615,000 workers,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Thanks to the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, this department has been focused on protecting those workers who need us most—the hotel cleaners, home care aides, meatpackers and hundreds of thousands more. And by ensuring that employers who violate the law are held to account, we are deterring businesses from exploiting workers in the future. I am so proud to say that we are putting money back in workers’ pockets and signaling to bad actors that they won’t get away with wage theft and illegal child labor on our watch.”
The Department of Labor enforces some of the nation’s labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act that requires payment of a federal minimum wage and overtime wages, as well as laws that require prevailing wages for federally funded and assisted contracts. The Department of Labor prioritizes helping workers in low-wage, high-violation industries, including healthcare, agriculture, construction and many others.
Joely Maniscalco is one of many workers who the Department of Labor has helped get back their hard-earned wages. A home health aide in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, she works to care for people in their homes by providing assistance with bathing, eating and other activities of daily living. In 2024, the Department of Labor found that Maniscalco had been the victim of wage theft from two different employers and recovered more than $1,000 in back wages for her. “I am grateful to the Department of Labor. They helped me understand my rights as a home care worker,” she said. Maniscalco was facing eviction and was able to use the back wages to secure a new apartment.
Housekeeper Demetria Jones is another worker who sought the Department of Labor’s help after Jones was not paid for all the hours she worked at a motel in Florida, and she struggled to provide for her family. Jones bravely stood up for her rights and contacted the Department of Labor. “I worked hard for my money, and everyone deserves to be paid properly,” she said. As a result of the investigation, Jones received more than $2,000 in minimum wage and overtime compensation.
If you believe you are a victim of wage theft or have questions about your rights as a worker, contact the attorneys of Pechman Law Group at 212-583-9500. We have recovered over $30 million for victims of wage theft.
