WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 487

An Act providing for notification of wage theft and for protection for employees who report wage theft; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; establishing the Wage Theft Notification and Protection Restricted Account; and imposing penalties and other relief.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Art Haywood and 7 co-sponsors

PA bill mandates employer wage theft notifications, protects reporting employees from retaliation, and establishes penalties to recover stolen wages and deter violations.

Referred to Labor & Industry
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 487

Legislative bill overview

SB 487 establishes mandatory employer notification requirements when wage theft occurs and creates legal protections for employees who report wage violations. The bill also creates a restricted account within the Department of Labor and Industry to handle wage theft cases and establishes penalties and remedies for employers who commit wage theft or retaliate against reporting employees.

Why is this important

Wage theft—when employers illegally withhold wages, fail to pay overtime, or misclassify workers—affects hundreds of thousands of workers annually but often goes unreported due to fear of retaliation or lack of awareness. This bill addresses both the detection and reporting gaps by requiring notification and establishing legal safeguards, potentially recovering stolen wages for affected workers and deterring employer violations through penalties.

Potential points of contention

  • Business compliance costs: Employers may argue the notification and documentation requirements create administrative burdens, particularly for small businesses, and that penalties could be excessive
  • Definition and enforcement scope: Disagreement may arise over what constitutes wage theft, how aggressively violations will be pursued, and whether the Department of Labor has adequate resources for enforcement
  • Retaliation protections breadth: Employers may resist expansive anti-retaliation language that could limit their ability to take employment actions, while workers' advocates may argue protections are too narrow or lack sufficient remedies

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

Sign in to ask a question.