For many low-wage workers, it’s not a hypothetical question. Businesses routinely refuse to pay the correct hourly wage, dodge taxes by misclassifying workers, refuse to pay workers earned overtime, and make employees work “off the clock.” More than 2 out of 3 low-wage workers experienced at least one type of wage theft in the previous week according to a 2010 survey of 4,000 workers in low-wage industries. The estimated average amount of wages stolen annually? $2,634 out of total average earnings of $17,616. That’s like an extra 15% tax on the poorest workers! As Mayor Gray prepares his budget, one of the most effective investments he can make in DC’s economy is to beef up enforcement of basic wage and paid leave laws designed to protect workers from wage theft. Why do employers steal so frequently from their employees? They know that enforcement is lax, they’re unlikely to get caught, and that, even if they are investigated, they’ll face few or no penalties. And yet, DC keeps cutting the staff of the agency charged with enforcing these laws even as the enforcement needs continue to grow, from 25 investigators down to 6. Unsurprisingly, the Office of Wage-Hour isn’t keeping up with the demands of the hundreds of workers who go there because they have been cheated out of their pay. Even when OWH is able to help a worker get their wages paid, the OWH rarely pursues any penalties or additional damages. Why? First, the measly $300 or $500 civil penalties it is allowed to assess don’t even cover the cost of the penalty hearing to collect them. Second, the OWH is failing to obtain additional liquidated damages to compensate employees for the harm caused by stolen wages because it often caves to business opposition in order to avoid litigating. With little risk of penalties or sanctions, lawbreakers have nothing to fear. The worst that happens to them when they rip off their employees is that they have to pay what they already owed in the first place. It’s like punishing burglars by asking them just to give back the TV and call it a day! How do we fix this broken system? We can start by requiring wage law violators pay the costs of enforcing the law just as we ask polluters to pay for the costs of environmental cleanup. That’s a much fairer solution than the status quo, which places the burden on low wage workers and honest businesses to pick up the tab for those who break the rules. DC suffers when workers are robbed of their livelihood. By increasing penalties and requiring those found guilty of wage theft to pay the District’s enforcement costs, the Mayor could crack down on wage theft while increasing the District’s revenue. It’s a rare budget win-win. -Ari Weisbard, Advocacy Manager, D.C. Employment Justice Center cross posted at http://makeonecitypossible.com/2012/02/09/what-would-you-do-if-your-boss-slipped-50-out-of-your-wallet-every-week/

EJC staff and several other members of DC's Fair Budget Coalition showed up at Mayor Gray's press conference today and grabbed the Mayor's attention for an impromptu discussion of the needs of DC's lower income residents. We pushed him to invest in programs and policies that help people afford to live in their community, protect our most vulnerable residents, and tackle unemployment through smart investments in training and education. We'd like EJC's supporters to add their voices to those calling for a Fair Budget. Mayor Gray is in the process of setting his priorities for this year’s budget and he needs to hear from us! He has the opportunity to restore critical funding to safety net services that have suffered deep budget cuts during the recession. Find out more about the programs that have been badly cut here and vote for our priorities to be discussed at the Mayor's "One City Summit" this Saturday here. Please email or call the Mayor (eom@dc.gov or 202-727-6263) to let him know you support a fair budget that Makes "One City" Possible. Sample Email: ------------------------------------------------ Dear Mayor Gray, I am writing because I want you to Make One City Possible by investing in programs and policies that create opportunities to live and work in the District. The gap between the rich and the poor in DC is growing, and safety net programs have been cut drastically when people need them the most.  I urge you to invest in programs and policies that help people afford to live in their community, protect our most vulnerable residents, and tackle unemployment through smart investments in training and education.  I support the recommendations of the Fair Budget Coalition, which can be found at www.Makeonecitypossible.com. Some of those recommendations include: -Restore $1.2 million to adult basic education and literacy programs, which will allow 400 more residents to get the skills needed for further education, training, and employment. -Invest $2.25 million to provide support and housing to help 150 homeless families on TANF move to work.  Housing subsidies and intensive support services will give families a stable foundation to participate in training and to move toward employment and independence. -Restore $4 million to Interim Disability Assistance so that 1,200 District residents who cannot work due to a disability have a modest income to make ends meet and access services that promote recovery and less costly emergency care. -Enforce workplace protections laws, like the minimum and living wage laws, the Accrued Paid Sick and Safe Leave Act, and the Wage Payment Act, and strengthen penalties against employers who violate their workers’ rights and try to steal their wages. Please let me know where you stand on these recommendations. [Your name and address] ------------------------------------------------

“Working with EJC – they have helped me get my benefits restored that were stolen from me for over seven years and they are still helping me to get my life insurance and my retirement benefits that have been illegally stolen, withheld or have disappeared.” -Shirley

The EJC is excited to announce that Barbra Kavanaugh Esq. has been named Executive Director of The DC Employment Justice Center.   Following a methodical and thorough search process, the search committee — comprised of members of the board and community leaders — enthusiastically selected Barbra to lead The EJC's ongoing efforts to protect and promote the rights of low-wage workers in the DC metro area. Read more about Barbra here.

“I just want to say that I’m very grateful to E.J.C. for all of the advice and the support they’ve given me.” -Carolina

“I’m here because my job wouldn’t give me my pay stubs and they were taking money out of my check without my knowledge” -Andrew

The 5th edition of the Employment Justice Center’s Workers’ Rights Manual is a comprehensive guide to employment law in the District of Columbia, with additional information on Maryland and Virginia law.  Chapters include: wage and hour, unemployment compensation, FMLA, discrimination, sexual harassment, workers’ compensation, OSHA, criminal records as a barrier to employment, and more! Purchase the Workers' Rights Manual here.

District of Columbia residents fare worse in almost every major economic and social indicator than the rest of the general population. The Hill-Snowdon Foundation commits resources to strengthening the practice and culture of community organizing in the region. Article Link

“Had it not been for the help that I received from E.J.C., I [have] no idea as to where I would be at this time.”

“I have found E.J.C. to be very effective in helping the community in seeking employment [and] defending rights of those who could not defend for themselves.” -Edna