§ 20½-3. Nonpayment of earned wages violations.

The nonpayment of earned wages occurs when an employer fails to pay any portion of wages due to an employee in accordance with the applicable wage rate. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in this chapter, upon a finding by a Hearing Officer appointed by Broward County that an employer has failed to pay earned wages, such violation shall entitle an employee to receive from that employer back wages plus liquidated damages in order to compensate for the economic losses suffered by reason of the employee not receiving the earned wages at the time such wages were due. However, notwithstanding anything to the contrary that may appear in this chapter, if the employer proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the act or omission giving rise to a nonpayment of earned wages complaint was in good faith and that the employer had reasonable grounds for believing that the nonpayment was not a violation of this chapter, the Hearing Officer may, in his or her sole discretion, award no liquidated damages or may award liquidated damages in a lesser amount than would be otherwise awardable.

(Ord. No. 2018-36 , § 1, 9-13-18)