RALEIGH, N.C. (NCN News) — Labor Commissioner Luke Farley announced that the North Carolina Department of Labor recovered a record-breaking $3.7 million in unpaid wages for workers in 89 of the state’s 100 counties during State Fiscal Year 2026.
The recoveries resulted from investigations by NCDOL’s Wage and Hour Bureau into thousands of complaints involving unpaid final paychecks, withheld commissions, unauthorized deductions and other violations of the N.C. Wage and Hour Act. Cases spanned construction, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, health care, transportation and agriculture, underscoring the broad reach of the bureau’s work.
“Today is a win for workers. It’s a win for the people who show up every day, put in the hours and do the job,” Farley said. “When a worker comes forward with a concern, they should know that the North Carolina Department of Labor is committed to helping them. Most businesses want to comply with the law, and our goal is always to work with them toward voluntary compliance.”
The NCDOL Wage and Hour Bureau enforces North Carolina’s wage laws through investigations, compliance assistance, and enforcement actions. It also provides education, training and technical guidance to help employers understand their obligations and prevent violations before they occur.
Workers who believe they have not received wages they are owed — including regular wages, final paychecks; commissions, bonuses or vacation pay promised in writing; or money lost through unauthorized deductions — are encouraged to submit a complaint to NCDOL.
State law prohibits retaliation against employees who, in good faith, file or threaten to file a wage-and-hour complaint or exercise other protected rights.