How to report wage theft in Florida
The exact agency, deadline, and paperwork to recover unpaid wages in Florida, verified by hand.
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (Florida has no state wage-claim agency)
Deadline
The federal route follows FLSA's 2-year window, 3 years if the violation was willful. Florida's own minimum-wage lawsuit right (Fla. Stat. 448.110) runs on the state's general civil statute of limitations instead, but you must give your employer 15 days' written notice before suing. Miami-Dade's ordinance only covers work performed in the last 12 months.
Florida is honest about this: there is no state agency that takes wage complaints or investigates on your behalf. Your two real options are a federal WHD complaint, which is free and doesn't need a lawyer, or a private lawsuit under Florida's minimum wage law, which requires you to send your employer written notice and wait 15 days before filing. If you worked in Miami-Dade County within the last 12 months and are owed between $60 and $15,000, the county's Wage Theft Program is a faster local alternative that can order restitution without a lawsuit.
Gather this first
- Your name, address, and phone number
- Your employer's legal name, address, and phone number
- Pay stubs, W-2s, or timesheets showing what you were paid and when
- The dates and hours you worked
- If pursuing Miami-Dade's program, proof the work was performed in Miami-Dade County
File with the federal WHD or call 1-866-487-9243
Facts last verified against official sources: 2026-07-04
After you report
- Your report is logged and an investigator reviews it. They may contact you for more detail or reach out to your employer directly.
- There is no charge to file, and the agency can order the back wages you are owed paid without you going to court.
- You do not need a lawyer to start, and it is illegal for your employer to fire or punish you for filing in good faith.
Related guides
Back to federal options and other states
Not legal advice
GetSnitching explains programs and processes in plain English from official sources. Whistleblower and reporting decisions can carry real legal risk. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney. Many whistleblower attorneys offer free consultations.