Workplace abuse and exploitation can take many forms and is often devastating, particularly for workers earning a low wage. When an employer engages in wage theft, sexual harassment, refusal to accommodate a disability, retaliation for asserting basic rights, or other unfair and illegal treatment, the effects on workers can be disastrous, creating a crisis that has ripple effects throughout their lives.
Many workers earning a low wage—who may be immigrants, LGBTQ, and/or have disabilities—are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, often because they lack a meaningful safety net. Wage theft or job loss can quickly lead to debt, food insecurity, or loss of housing. All too often, workers do not come forward for fear of retaliation or because they are not sure where to go for help.