this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
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A Boring Dystopia
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So let's see... Here in Denmark:
If I steal the equivalent of $100 from a store, they will call the police, the police will apprehend me, take back the $100, and give me a fine. If the robbery seems to be professional, then it could also result in jail time up to 1 year and 6 months.
If my employer shorts my paycheck by the equivalent of $100, then I contact my union. The union contacts the company and tells the company to pay me within a week or two. If the company doesn't pay me within the deadline, the union will declare the company bankrupt, and the bankruptcy proceedings start by liquidating the company and paying me my missing wages along with the guaranteed pay that relates to being fired, which depends on how long I have been employed. (1 month pay if I have been employed less than 6 months, 3 months pay if employed 6 months to 3 years, 4 months pay if employed for 3 to 6 years, 5 months pay if employed 6 to 9 years, and 6 months pay if employed more than 9 years.)
Well fuck Denmark is civilized.
The USA version is different, and likely what is being complained about.
Even in this situation it's uneven. If the company pays you the right amount within a couple weeks, nothing happens. It's as if they never shorted you.
If you take the money from the company, you - at least - pay an additional fine. And/or go to prison. The company doesn't have either consequence for attempting to steal from you.
I see where you're coming from, but if the company repeatedly holds back your salary, then the union can still start bankruptcy proceedings.
It is assumed that being late with paying wages might have been a mistake, and you don't want to punish people or companies for a mistake.
You can't really assume that people stealing money from a store is a mistake.
You see your honour, I meant to grab a stick of gum next to the till but accidentally reached inside it and took $100
based
What happens if an employer empties the business's bank account and runs to avoid consequences? Does anyone compensate the employee in that case?
I'm not entirely sure... At the very least you would be able to immediately collect unemployment (~12.000 DKK if you don't have kids, ~16.000 DKK if you have kids), and if you're in an "a-kasse" you would be able to collect up to 90% of your old salary.
I'm pretty sure thought, that anyone who ran away with the bank account would pretty much have to leave the country, as otherwise they would be apprehended by police, personal belongings would be repossessed, and they would not be allowed to start a new business.
bald eagle screeching in the distance
So what you're telling me is that the actual person who made the decision to steal your wages faces no personal consequences for making that decision.