wagetheft(Q&A)
An ordinance to combat wage theft has gone into effect in Alachua County.
The Wage Theft Recovery Ordinance was passed in April and went into effect Jan. 1. The ordinance was passed through the Alachua County Commission in a 3 to 2 vote.
Alachua County joins Miami-Dade and Broward counties with wage-theft protection in Florida.
Jacqueline Chung, Alachua County Equal Opportunity manager, said the ordinance is an enforcement mechanism in Alachua County against wage theft.
Chung defined wage theft as the nonpayment or underpayment of employees.
She said an employee should first attempt to resolve a wage theft complaint with his or her employer. If a solution cannot be found, Chung recommends the worker contact her office directly at 352-374-5275.