Shorted wages? A letter from an unpaid wages lawyer, flat fee, and the Labor Law doubles what they owe.
Unpaid hours, stolen tips, missed overtime, illegal deductions, a final paycheck that never came. New York Labor Law adds 100% liquidated damages on every dollar owed, plus attorney fees, with a six year lookback.
Flat fee $499, signed by a licensed New York attorney, draft within 48 hours, mailed on your approval.
Reviewed by Daniel Hochman, Esq. · Last updated November 1, 2026
New York Labor Law § 198(1-a) gives an employee who wins the full unpaid wages plus an equal amount in liquidated damages, plus interest and reasonable attorney fees paid by the employer. Wage claims reach back six years, and retaliation for asserting wage rights is itself unlawful. Since May 2025, a first violation where wages were paid late but at least semi-monthly is limited to lost interest.
Still employed there? The letter is drafted to account for that; retaliation for asserting wage rights is itself unlawful.
100% liquidated damages
A prevailing employee recovers the full wages owed plus an equal amount as liquidated damages, effectively doubling the claim, plus interest.
NYLL § 198(1-a)
Your attorney fees, their problem
The statute shifts your reasonable attorney fees to the employer, which is why a letter from counsel gets a very different reception than a complaint from an employee.
Six years back
New York's lookback for wage claims is six years, among the longest in the country.
Before you spend a dollar: there is a free route
The NYS Department of Labor takes wage theft claims for free and pursues employers itself, and for larger claims employment lawyers routinely work on contingency because the statute makes the employer pay your fees. Both routes are slower than a letter but cost nothing. This letter is for people who want speed and a direct attorney demand for a clear, modest claim; if your situation fits the free routes better, attorney screening will tell you so honestly.
Questions before you start
My employer paid me late, not never. Do I have a claim?
Late payment claims changed in May 2025: for a first violation where wages were ultimately paid at least semi-monthly, damages are now limited to lost interest rather than 100% liquidated damages, and the private right of action is under appellate review. Your intake is screened accordingly, and never-paid or shorted wages still carry full liquidated damages.
What if my wage history is large or involves discrimination too?
Then a letter is the wrong tool and full representation is the right one. Your intake is reviewed by the attorney either way, and if the firm takes your case, the full flat fee can go toward that representation.
Statutes cited on this page
Labor Law § 198 (Labor Law)
Each link opens the official text at the New York State Senate's Open Legislation site (federal sections: Cornell Law School's U.S. Code).