Don’t STEAL Act

Key Points

• The bill creates a new federal right requiring employers to pay workers the highest rate available, whether from a private contract, union agreement, or federal/state law. This closes gaps where employers might pay less than what was promised.
• Employers who willfully steal more than $1,000 in wages or overtime could face up to five years in prison and fines. For amounts of $1,000 or less, they could face up to one year in jail. This is a major increase from existing penalties under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• When setting fines, judges must consider how many workers were affected, the dollar value of stolen wages, whether the employer has prior convictions, and the size of the business. This is designed to make penalties proportional.
• Fines collected under the new criminal penalties would be directed to the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division to fund enforcement of wage laws. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle where catching violators funds further investigations.
• The new penalties would take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law, giving employers a short window to come into compliance before the tougher consequences kick in.