Prairie State Wire

Illinois workers now have an additional resource to claim unpaid wages and penalties, thanks to a collaboration between State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL). Workers can use Frerichs' I-CASH website to check for any unclaimed funds collected by IDOL from employers who violated state wage laws.

The integration of recovered wages into the Treasurer's missing money site stems from legislative changes led by State Sen. Robert Peters and State Rep. Marcus C. Evans Jr., passed through the General Assembly last year. The IDOL is tasked with investigating wage theft cases and recovering back wages when employers underpay their employees.

Due to various reasons such as relocation or changes in contact information, affected workers may not always be aware that they are owed money. To address this, the law has extended the recovery period for unpaid wages to three years, allowing IDOL more time to locate these employees. If after three years the wages remain unclaimed, they are transferred to Treasurer Frerichs' Unclaimed Property Trust Fund for easier access via the I-CASH site.

Recently, IDOL began transferring recovered unpaid wages to the State Treasurer's Office. As a result, 25 individuals' names have been added to the unclaimed property database so far. Workers can visit icash.illinoistreasurer.gov over the coming months to check if they have any pending claims.

Furthermore, part of this legislative change includes funding allocated for worker outreach and education about recovering unpaid wages.

"Hard-working people in Illinois deserve to be paid for their labor," stated Treasurer Frerichs. "We are thankful to team up with the Illinois Department of Labor, Sen. Peters, and Rep. Evans on a common-sense solution."

Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan emphasized that "ensuring workers are paid what they're owed is at the core of the Illinois Department of Labor's mission." She acknowledged that these legal updates provide both extended timeframes and new tools for workers seeking their due payments.

Senator Peters remarked on wage theft being a significant issue: "Let's be clear: Wage theft is theft. It's in fact the leading form of theft." Representative Evans also expressed support: "People who work and have wages unfairly withheld from them now have better recourse."

Both legislators highlighted their commitment towards helping people reclaim what is rightfully theirs through collaborative efforts in Springfield.