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Bill

SD 1802

An Act preventing wage theft, promoting employer accountability, and enhancing public enforcement

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady and 11 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill strengthens wage theft penalties, expands employer accountability requirements, and grants labor agencies enhanced enforcement powers to recover unpaid worker compensation.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 1802

Legislative bill overview

SD 1802 establishes stricter penalties for wage theft, expands the definition of wage violations, and creates new enforcement mechanisms including enhanced investigation powers for the Department of Labor Standards. The bill also requires employers to provide wage statements, prohibits retaliation against workers who report violations, and allows for civil penalties and damages recovery.

Why is this important

Wage theft—when employers fail to pay earned wages, overtime, or benefits—disproportionately affects low-wage workers who lack resources to pursue legal action. This bill addresses a widespread problem by making enforcement easier for state agencies and workers, potentially recovering millions in unpaid wages and deterring future violations through meaningful financial penalties.

Potential points of contention

  • Business compliance costs: Employers argue new record-keeping requirements, wage statement provisions, and expanded liability create administrative burden and increase operational costs, particularly for small businesses
  • Penalty structure and severity: Debate over whether penalties are proportionate—some argue they're necessary deterrents while others contend enhanced penalties could discourage job creation or hiring
  • Enforcement capacity: Questions about whether the Department of Labor Standards has sufficient resources and staffing to effectively investigate expanded categories of violations without significant budget increases
  • Definition breadth: Disagreement over what constitutes "wage theft" and whether the expanded definition could capture good-faith employer errors or create ambiguity in compliance standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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