Senate Bill 503 - Wage Theft Act Summary

• Amends North Carolina labor law definitions to clarify employment status, intentional violations, and willful conduct standards.

• Requires employers to notify employees in writing at hiring and upon material changes regarding promised wages, payment method/schedule, employer identification, and employment status.

• Establishes liquidated damages of twice unpaid wages plus interest for minimum wage, overtime, and wage payment violations, with statutory damages up to $500 per employee per intentional violation.

• Extends statute of limitations for wage claims from two years to three years for willful violations and creates employee liens on employer property (real and personal) to secure unpaid wage claims.

• Increases civil penalties for violations from $500 first offense/$1,000 subsequent to $500 first offense/$1,000 subsequent, with three-year statute of limitations for assessments.