Wage theft, which includes nonpayment of overtime, minimum wage violations, and other labor law violations, is common among low-wage workers. Up to 30% of all workers experience some form of wage theft. Low-wage immigrant workers are especially vulnerable. Studies show wage theft is linked to increased risk of health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and reduced life expectancy. By reducing income and increasing work hours, wage theft threatens both individual and community health and well-being.

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Daniel R. Block
Chicago State University
James E. Bloyd
Cook County Department of
Public Health
Maximilian M. Boykin
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Natalie Chadwell
South Suburb Resident
Jonathan Contreras
University of Illinois
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Health & Medicine Policy
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Cook County Commissioner
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Illinois Action For Children
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Root Cause
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University of Illinois, School
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Centers For New Horizons
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ROC Chicago
Griselle Torres
University of Illinois, School
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Reveca Torres
BackbonesOnline.com
What is Wage Theft?
Wage theft is nonpayment of wages and benefits to which workers are legally entitled.
Wage theft includes nonpayment of earned overtime, underpayment of the minimum
wage, delayed or nonpayment of back wages, misclassification of employees as
independent contractors, confiscation of tip money, and failure to grant mandated
breaks or paid sick leave.1 Wage theft is common among low-wage jobs, which
includes 20 to 30% of all workers. Wage theft is “a defining trend of the 21st century job
market.”2
Low-wage immigrant workers are particularly likely to be victims of wage theft, in part
because of their vulnerability to exploitation as a result of language, education, and
citizenship status.
A survey of over 4300 low wage workers in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles found
that more than 76% had not received earned overtime pay the preceding week, and
69% had failed to receive meal breaks or had them reduced in time—all violations of
labor law.3
What is the Evidence Showing Wage Theft Threaten Health?
There is a strong correlation between low wages and high blood pressure, particularly
among younger workers (aged 25---44 years) and women.4
Studies have found links between low wages and diabetes, obesity, and breast
cancer.5
Residents of Chicago-area neighborhoods with a median household income less than
$25,000/year died 14 years sooner than did residents of neighborhoods with income
greater than $53,000 per year.6
Wage theft “may result in increased crowding or homelessness, hunger, decreased
mobility, and decreased ability to pay for childcare or medical care—all having an
adverse impact on health.”7
Wage theft “may also increase the number of hours or jobs worked, which may in turn
decrease time spent with family, leisure time for physical activity, and sleep or rest.”8
Sources:
1
Minkler, M., Salvatore, A. L., Chang, C., Gaydos, M., Liu, S. S., Lee, P. T., . . . Krause, N. (2014). Wage theft as a neglected public health problem: An
overview and case study from san francisco's chinatown district. American Journal of Public Health, 104(6), 1010-20. 2
Minkler, M. etal (2014) p.1010.
3
Bernhardt A, Milkman R, Theodore N, et al. Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers: Violations of Employment and Labor Laws in America’s Cities. New
York, NY: Center for Urban Economic Development, UIC National Employment Law Project, UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment;
2009, cited by Minkler. M etal (2014). 4
Leigh JP, Du J. Are low wages risk factors for hypertension. Eur J Public Health. 2012;22(6):854---859, cited by
Minkler. M etal (2014). 5
Brown HS III, Perez A, Yarnell LM, et al. Diabetes and employment productivity: does diabetes management matter? Diabetes.
2011;17:569---576.;Yach D, Stuckler D, Brownell KD. Epidemiologic and economic consequences of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Nat
Med. 2006;12(1):62---66; Gerend MA, Pai M. Social determinants of Black---White disparities in breast cancer mortality: a review. Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev. 2008;17(11):2913---2923, cited by Minkler. M etal (2014). 6
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, & Cook County Place
Matters. (2012). Place matters for health in cook county: Ensuring opportunities for good health for all | joint center for political and economic studies.
Washington, DC. P.2. 7
Minkler. M. etal (2014) p.1011.8
Minkler. M. etal (2014) p.1011, citing Siqueira CE, Gaydos M, Monforton C, et al. Effects of social,
economic, and labor policies on occupational health disparities. Am J Ind Med. 2013;Epub ahead of print.
Working to eliminate structural racism so that all people of Cook County have the opportunity to live healthy lives
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Wage theft is a threat to
community health & well-being.
Wage theft is a public health
issue.