this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2025
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Antiwork

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Six years after a new law made wage theft a felony in Minnesota, our state has its first wage theft conviction.

Frederick Leon Newell will be sentenced in June for stealing $35,000 dollars from five workers he employed as a painting contractor for a Minneapolis affordable housing development.

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[–] freshcow@lemmy.world 55 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago

Right! Every employer knowingly partakes in some form of wage theft. It just comes down to what each sides definitions of wage theft. I argue all profits not paid out to those who generated said profits is theft. Unpaid taxes is a form of wage theft as well. In my opinion.

[–] timewarp@lemmy.world 26 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

What's crazy in almost every other state all an employer has to do is accuse you of stealing in order for you to get locked up, but they can steal from you and it's a civil matter that the DoL is almost certainly going to require that you pursue yourself in federal court, with a 90 day statute of limitation once you get a right to sue letter. I'm all for making wage theft criminal, but this being the first conviction 6 years after the law was passed is not the win most people think it is. The AG should be required to pursue all wage thefts, especially those that have already been proven in civil court.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world -1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Not even close to true. Employers live in fear of an employee call to the state labor board. If an employee is accusing the employer, the onus of proof is on the employer. Guilty until proven innocent.

Problem is, no one seems to know this, let alone take action. Look at your post for example, acting like this a federal matter that the employee must pursue with an attorney.

Anyone notice how you're required to sign or otherwise approve your hours? That's why. Don't sign if it isn't true.

SOURCE: Worked 5 years for a payroll firm with 250 employers. Only had a couple of employees call in the labor board, and those employers where shitting kittens.

As to attorneys, I'll once again stump for legal insurance. $26/mo. and you can call for advice all you like. "Real" cases like a divorce or a lawsuit are 25% off. I saved more on my divorce and child custody than I will ever pay in. Speaking of, the state is fucking me on child support, literally taking half my check. Half. Made a call, need to give the lawyer some docs, they'll handle it.

And that kids is the major difference between rich and poor, legal representation.

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 19 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Everyone's reminder that wage theft accounts for more money stolen than all other forms of theft COMBINED.

https://www.epi.org/publication/wage-theft-bigger-problem-forms-theft-workers/

[–] Derpenheim@lemmy.zip 14 points 6 days ago

Minnesota, keep leading the way! Your policies are fantastic, and I hope they are the catalyst for the others to follow

[–] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago

Go after the tip industry. Most places don't even give the tips to the employees right away.

[–] jumjummy@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

I’d wager any amount that this clown probably hates “illegal immigrants” and wants to be “tough on crime”.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] Zulu@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] lime@feddit.nu 2 points 6 days ago

Liberty Bell March starts playing

[–] jaggedrobotpubes@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

This is the shit right here.