Denver needs to fully fund fight against wage theft

On Labor Day, we honor the contributions and achievements of America’s and Denver’s workers — the people who produce our food, care for our loved ones when they are sick, teach our children, build and repair our city, and more. Without their labor, our society could not run.

But without significant government support, these essential workers will face widespread exploitation and wage theft.

In recognition of workers’ value, Denver and Colorado leaders have recently made new laws raising the minimum wage, expanding overtime protections, guaranteeing paid sick leave, and protecting workers against wage theft, which happens whenever an employer doesn’t pay somebody the money they earn.

But without real enforcement, legal protections are hollow. Many people who have their rights violated cannot afford a lawyer, don’t know how to bring a lawsuit themselves, and fear retaliation. They need every dollar and cent they earned. That’s why my team and I work so hard to investigate and fight wage theft. In the last 10 months, we’ve collected more than $1,614,236 for 3,062 workers.

To continue to fight for workers’ rights and set a national standard, Denver must devote more resources to this problem. Despite all the money we have recovered, we capture only a percentage of the wage theft that plagues Denver’s workers. In the next three years, we need to hire new investigators, refine our enforcement strategies, and leverage every tool we can to ensure that the people who run our city can afford to thrive in it. I am confident the City Council will support the need for additional resources.

Wage theft is one of the most frequent and costly crimes. The Colorado Fiscal Institute reports hundreds of thousands of workers have their wages stolen every year — including tens of thousands of Denverites. Women, low-wage workers, people of color, and foreign-born workers are more likely to have their rights violated.

Wage theft is incredibly harmful to the workers of Denver. It costs individuals, families, and our entire community a great deal. When people aren’t paid the money they earn, they are put in danger. When I have the necessary resources to recover money owed to workers, we can help keep workers on the right side of hunger, debt, and eviction. When workers are treated fairly, and their rights are enforced, we all benefit.

One of the most frequent kinds of wage theft is when Denver workers are paid less than the city minimum wage — currently $17.29 per hour. I see other types of wage theft all too commonly, as well: too many workers who aren’t paid overtime, don’t get paid sick leave or rest breaks, or don’t get paid for all the time they work. Some are never paid at all.

And wage theft doesn’t just hurt workers. It hurts businesses too. All over Denver, employers want to follow the law, pay people right, and provide good jobs. But when their competitors cut costs by violating the law, it’s impossible to compete fairly. Our efforts ensure a fair environment for businesses and workers alike. I am happy to speak to anybody, anywhere to make sure they understand their rights and responsibilities under the laws we enforce.

My team and I have developed strong and productive relationships with industry trade groups, employer representatives, non-profit organizations, and labor unions. Our community allies know they can call us with questions or to report violations, and we know we can rely on them to help us connect with the people who need our services.

I am grateful to all the workers of Denver, for their service to our communities, and for their trust in me to protect them from wage theft. This Labor Day, and every day, I am committed to honoring workers by protecting their rights, educating their employers, and making sure our city is a fair place to work.

Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien was elected in 2015 and reelected in 2019 and 2023.  Anyone who believes they are a victim of wage theft can file a complaint with him at DenverWages.org.

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