More than 5,800 Michigan workers are owed more than $2.3M in back wages. The U.S. Department of Labor is trying to put that money back in workers’ pockets, but it’s hitting roadblocks.
A significant portion of the money recovered by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) remains unclaimed, because some of the workers due back wages can’t be located.
The Department said in a statement that notifying employees can be difficult if they change jobs, addresses, names or the employer fails to retain contact information.
In hopes of putting money back into workers’ hands, the agency has revamped its online search tool, Workers Owed Wages (WOW) that allows employees to enter information to find out if the department is holding back wages on their behalf. If money is owed to workers, the WHD will work with them to quickly secure their checks.
The WOW system is available in English and Spanish. WHD said it made updates to the system’s website last year, beefing up security and creating a more user-friendly experience.
The WHD can only hold unclaimed back wages for three years before it’s required to turn the funds over to the Department of the Treasury.
