Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers exposes systematic and routine violations of employment and labor laws in the US economy. It is based on a 2008 survey of 4,387 workers in low-wage industries in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
The study's innovative, rigorous methodology reached vulnerable workers who are often missed in standard surveys, such as unauthorized immigrants and those paid in cash. The research was conducted by:
Workplace violations are severe and widespread in the low-wage labor market. In our sample, 26% of low-wage workers were paid less than the minimum wage in the week prior to the survey, and 76% of those who worked more than 40 hours were not paid the legally required overtime rate.
Job and employer characteristics are key to understanding workplace violations. For example, the industry and occupation of a worker's job was one of the strongest predictors of violations.
All workers - regardless of legal status, race, gender and nativity - are at risk of workplace violations, though some groups are more vulnerable than others.
More than two-thirds of our sample experienced at least one pay-related violation in the previous work week. Assuming a full-time, full-year work schedule, we estimate that workers lose an average of $2,634 annually due to workplace violations, out of total earnings of $17,616.
