On October 21, 2015, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved Ordinance 15-25 also known as “Hillsborough County Wage Recovery Ordinance.” The Ordinance, which went into effect January 1, 2016, applies to any individual or independent contractor performing work in Hillsborough County, or any individual who performs work that benefits an employer located within the County even though the employee may be located outside of Hillsborough County. Covered employees who are not paid earned wages when these are due can file a complaint with the 13th Judicial Mediation and Diversions Services Program. Wages is defined as “any form of monetary compensation that an employee or independent contractor agreed to accept for performing work or providing services for the employer.”
The purpose of the Hillsborough County Wage Recovery Ordinance is to reduce and eventually eliminate unfair competition by businesses that intentionally do not pay or underpay their employees. To qualify for assistance recovering earned wages, the minimum amount owed must be $60 and the wage dispute must be within the last 14 calendar days, or at most 14 calendar days from the date work was performed. If employee is subject to retaliatory conduct by his or her employer, the employee may file a court action in state or federal court against the employer for violating his or her rights as an employee. For more information make sure to visit Hillsborough County’s website.