How to report wage theft in Georgia
The exact agency, deadline, and paperwork to recover unpaid wages in Georgia, verified by hand.
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (Georgia has no state wage-claim agency)
Deadline
The federal route runs on FLSA's clock: 2 years generally, 3 years if the violation was willful. Georgia doesn't have a separate state wage-payment statute, so a private lawsuit here typically leans on the same federal deadlines, which is a conversation for an attorney rather than this page.
Georgia's own labor department is upfront that it does not handle individual wage complaints and instead points workers straight to the federal Wage and Hour Division. That makes a WHD complaint your main no-cost, no-lawyer option here. If your claim is a poor fit for a federal investigation, Georgia's magistrate courts also hear wage disputes up to $15,000 without requiring a lawyer.
Gather this first
- Your name, address, and phone number
- Your employer's legal name, address, and phone number
- The dates you worked and how you were paid
- Pay stubs or any personal record of hours worked
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.