Employed, But Not Respected
Working for less than the legal minimum wage. Pressured to not file workers' comp claims. Not receiving mandatory breaks.
These are just some of the egregious workplace violations that American workers put up with on a weekly basis, according to a new survey.
Researchers from the Center for Urban Economic Development, UCLA and the National Employment Law Project surveyed low-wage workers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. As the New York Times details, the researchers found that more than two-thirds of respondents experienced at least one form of pay violation — such as illegal deductions or loss of overtime pay— in the previous week. And one in four workers was making less than the minimum wage required by their state.
One of the survey's most disturbing findings was that only 8 percent of those seriously injured on the job filed workers' compensation claims. Employer intimidation was largely to blame. Half of injured respondents said that upon reporting their injury, employers either threatened firing, or calling the INS, and/or instructed workers not to file for workers' compensation benefits — all moves that are prohibited by national labor laws.
The report included recommendations that fell into three areas: improving enforcement of existing labor laws, revamping OSHA and other labor standards, and making sure all workers — even "unauthorized" immigrants — are treated equally.
Not everyone will agree with these reforms. But the survey sheds light on a serious problem. And although these days we're more concerned about the benefits we give those who are not employed, we should care equally about the rights we grant to those who are.
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