How to Research Your Employer’s Wage Violation History

Some employers have a documented history of wage violations. Researching that history before filing your claim gives you information that strengthens your case and helps you calibrate your settlement expectations.

Where to Look

The DLSE maintains public records of wage claim adjudications. Court records (PACER for federal cases, case.net for California cases) reveal prior wage litigation. The California AG’s office has a list of garment industry violators. The Department of Labor’s enforcement database covers federal violations. News searches for the employer name plus ‘wage theft’ or ‘class action’ often surface prior cases.

A repeat violator changes your leverage. An employer with a documented history of the same violations you’re experiencing is not going to claim ignorance of the law. That history supports a finding of willfulness — which affects the waiting time penalty analysis and PAGA civil penalty amounts. It also suggests that your individual claim may be part of a pattern affecting many workers, which could support a class action or PAGA representative action.

The California Wage Theft Recovery System gives workers the exact tools and templates to document violations, calculate what they’re owed, and file the right claims — without paying an attorney to get started. Request your free evaluation here.