An employee forces IWS to accept less money than they are due. The ER faces what civil penalty?

• A. No Civil Penalty Because Of Exclusive Remedy
• B. Civil Penalty Up To $100
• C. Civil Penalty Up To $500
• D. Civil Penalty Up To $100,000

Answer: (B)

The important idea is that coercing an employee to take less money than is due under wage and hour protections triggers a civil penalty. This type of enforcement is meant to deter employers from pressuring workers to surrender wages, and the penalty is set at a modest cap to punish the conduct without being overly punitive. The exclusive remedy rule from workers’ compensation does not remove this civil penalty; wage protections are enforced through civil penalties in addition to any wages owed. Therefore, the civil penalty for this conduct is capped at a relatively small amount—up to $100 per violation. The larger penalties suggested in the other options don’t apply to this wage-violation scenario.