Low-Wage Worker Project
Wage theft—the underpayment of wages to workers—disproportionately affects immigrants and people of color. Wage theft can appear in many forms, including:
- Failure to pay for all hours worked
- Unpaid overtime
- Misclassification as an independent contractor
Wage theft occurs in many industries but is particularly common in retail, food services, warehouse/logistics, package delivery, construction, and cleaning services.
Our Low-Wage Worker Project seeks to promote economic stability by helping low-wage workers receive all wages to which they are legally entitled.
Our services focus on:
- Identifying common wage theft practices in key Charlotte industries
- Assisting low-wage workers in the recovery of unpaid wages
- Helping low-wage workers understand their workplace rights
Need help?
If you would like to discuss a possible wage claim,
call us at 980-256-3980
Advocacy
In addition to individual representation, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy advocates for strengthened enforcement of employment laws at the local, state, and national level. We collaborate with other legal services providers and community organizations to develop strategies for empowering workers and improving compliance with existing workplace protections.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Low-Wage Worker Project’s services, you must live or work in Mecklenburg County. Although this project does not have a specific income cap, the project’s focus is to protect the legal rights of low-income workers who are unable to afford legal representation.