In California: The Tool to Search For and Claim Back Wages Recovered by the Government

California workers who believe they are owed unpaid wages now have a dedicated tool to help them reclaim their earnings. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has made available its "Workers Owed Wages" (WOW) online search tool to locate employees who have not yet collected back wages recovered due to minimum wage and overtime violations.

The WOW tool allows workers to check if the WHD has recovered wages in their name and is holding the funds pending distribution. The agency stated that when violations are detected, it works to recover unpaid wages on behalf of employees, making every effort to locate and notify them. If the WHD cannot locate a worker within three years of recovery, the funds are transferred to the U.S. Treasury.

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When we detect violations, we work to recover the unpaid wages on behalf of the employees. We do everything possible to locate and notify each employee to whom wages are owed.

To use the WOW tool, workers who suspect they are owed wages in California should visit the platform and follow the outlined steps. The WHD also handles complaints related to various federal labor laws, including those concerning minimum wage, overtime, record-keeping, and child labor. Employees can initiate a complaint by calling 1-866-487-9243 or by contacting the agency online for general inquiries.

The WHD advises that providing additional information, such as pay stubs, personal work hour records, or other details about an employer's payment practices, can be highly beneficial when filing a complaint. The agency will work with the complainant to address questions and determine the best course of action, potentially leading to an investigation.

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If, at the end of that period, it could not be delivered, the remaining funds are transferred to the United States Treasury.