"Theft" is what they want is to call "shoplifting", while they continue to rob us all into early graves, every minute of every single goddamned day.
Point of fact: In the US, all forms of property theft combined (robberies, burglaries, motor vehicle, imbezzlement, fraud, etc.) don't even come close to the consistently insane wage theft totals every single year.
In 2025 alone, US wage theft topped 50 billion dollars and only ~$259 million of it "recovered" ^1^. (That's half of a single percentage point, ffs!)
^1^ : The true amount workers take home is heavily depleted by litigation fees, administrative hurdles, and collection failures. All listed "recovered" funds are gross, and do not account for the >45% "losses" before any/all payouts to the millions of workers.
^2^ : Prior to 2010, Systemic wage theft had not yet been quantified at a national macroscale; data relies strictly on federal FLSA claims.
However, the data shows that total cumulative WHD wage recoveries 1990 - ~2010 began ticking up alongside early regional academic focus on low-wage worker exploitation.
By 2010, econometric models established that minimum wage violations alone cost workers billions, matching or exceeding all standard property theft.
^3^ : Study covers 2017-20; evenly split, (illogical, innaccurate) that's only $107.7 million "recovered" (> 0.16%) each year.
^4^ : Study covers 2021-23; evenly split, (" ") that's less than $77.7 million "recovered" (> 0.16%) each year.
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There! Are! 5! Fingers!
Pinkies out when shoplifting.
"Theft" is what they want is to call "shoplifting", while they continue to rob us all into early graves, every minute of every single goddamned day.
Point of fact: In the US, all forms of property theft combined (robberies, burglaries, motor vehicle, imbezzlement, fraud, etc.) don't even come close to the consistently insane wage theft totals every single year.
In 2025 alone, US wage theft topped 50 billion dollars and only ~$259 million of it "recovered" ^1^. (That's half of a single percentage point, ffs!)
Do what thou wilt, fellow poors. ✊🏼
p.s. Here's a quick look at 2010-2025:
^1^ : The true amount workers take home is heavily depleted by litigation fees, administrative hurdles, and collection failures. All listed "recovered" funds are gross, and do not account for the >45% "losses" before any/all payouts to the millions of workers.
^2^ : Prior to 2010, Systemic wage theft had not yet been quantified at a national macroscale; data relies strictly on federal FLSA claims.
However, the data shows that total cumulative WHD wage recoveries 1990 - ~2010 began ticking up alongside early regional academic focus on low-wage worker exploitation.
By 2010, econometric models established that minimum wage violations alone cost workers billions, matching or exceeding all standard property theft.
^3^ : Study covers 2017-20; evenly split, (illogical, innaccurate) that's only $107.7 million "recovered" (> 0.16%) each year.
^4^ : Study covers 2021-23; evenly split, (" ") that's less than $77.7 million "recovered" (> 0.16%) each year.
I have an urge to clean my ears...