Miami’s Dirty Secret: The Wage Theft Capital of Florida
In 2023, Miami-Dade recovered $2.8 million for cheated workers—but thousands more go unpaid. These industries are the worst offenders:
🍽️ Restaurants (54% of claims)
🏗️ Construction (33%)
💅 Domestic Workers (13%)
If your boss owes you money, here’s your weapon—the Miami-Dade Wage Theft Ordinance.
1. What Counts as Wage Theft in Miami?
You can sue if your employer:
✖️ Pays below Florida’s $12/hour minimum wage (as of 2024)
✖️ Withholds final paycheck
✖️ Denies overtime (1.5x pay after 40 hours)
✖️ Steals tips (common in South Beach hotels)
✖️ Forces off-the-clock work (e.g., cleaning after shift ends)
Real case: A Little Havana dishwasher won $14,750 after proving his boss shaved 10 hours/week from his timesheet.
2. How to File a Claim—Step by Step
Step 1: Gather Evidence (Do this NOW)
- Pay stubs vs. bank deposits
- Texts/emails admitting owed wages
- Witness statements from coworkers
- Photos of handwritten timesheets
Pro Tip: Use the Workplace Justice App to secretly record conversations.
Step 2: Report to Miami-Dade
- Online Portal: File a Wage Theft Complaint
- Deadline: Within 1 year of last unpaid workday
- Cost: $0 (tax dollars fund investigations)
Step 3: The Hammer Falls
- County investigators subpoena employer records
- 90% of cases settle before trial (avg. $3,200 payout)
- Worst offenders face triple damages + business license revocation
3. Why Miami Workers Win More
Unlike most states, Miami-Dade:
✅ Bans retaliation (firing you = automatic $5k penalty)
✅ Speeds up hearings (avg. 67 days vs. 2+ years federally)
✅ Speaks your language (Spanish/Creole/Kreyol forms available)
Last year, 82% of workers won their cases—without a lawyer.
4. Shady Employer Tactics to Watch For
❌ “You’re an independent contractor” (Illegal for set-schedule jobs)
❌ “We’ll pay you next week” (Delaying = wage theft)
❌ “Sign this waiver” (Invalid under Miami-Dade Code Sec. 11A-47)
“I Got My Money”—A Miami Success Story
Maria R., Wynwood housekeeper:
- Stolen wages: $6,200 over 8 months
- Action: Filed complaint + shared evidence on TikTok (went viral)
- Result: Full payment + $2k extra for emotional distress
5. Beyond the County: When to Sue
For wages stolen over 1 year ago or $15k+, contact:
- Legal Services of Greater Miami (free help)
- Florida AG’s Office (for multi-victim cases)
Miami Law 