Employers guilty of wage theft will face stiffer penalties in Illinois under a new bill that is set to be signed into law.

Governor Pat Quinn is scheduled to sign the new wage theft bill Friday. Under the new law, a repeat offense by an employer will be considered a felony instead of a misdemeanor. Employers who violate wage theft laws will have to pay employees back with interest.

The new legislation gives the Illinois Department of Labor increased oversight in dealing with the more than 10,000 wage theft claims it sees annually. The agency would directly deal with claims of $3,000 or less, which make up the majority of claims.

The law also provides some new worker protections, like anti-retaliation provisions.

Cases like this illustrate the way in which workers can be worked tirelessly without proper compensation from their employer. If you feel you have not been given the overtime payment you deserve, you should contact a Overtime Collection Lawyer of Tycko & Zavareei, LLP., by calling 202-973-0900. Know your rights and your options, and be sure to discuss your case with a legal professional today.