California Labor Commissioner’s Office Launches Reaching Every Californian Public Awareness Campaign to Prevent Wage Theft
California—The Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO), a division within the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), has relaunched the Reaching Every Californian public awareness campaign to educate workers about their labor rights, how to prevent wage theft and identify and take action against workplace retaliation.
This statewide multilingual campaign has been active each year since 2020 focusing on workers in low wage industries including agriculture, construction, warehouse, restaurant, garment and more. Educational advertising messages are targeted at workers on the radio, on outdoor posters and billboards, as well as on digital and social media advertisements.
Informational advertising will reach millions of Californians across the state in English and Spanish. Radio advertisements will be heard on dozens of stations in regions ranging from Southern California and the Central Valley, to the Bay Area and Central Coast. Print ads will reach workers at lunch trucks, supermarkets, pharmacies, laundromats, salons, check cashing stores and more. Online advertising includes targeted social media and internet search ads as well as on digital platforms specifically focused on Spanish-speaking audiences, including on screens in Mexican consulate offices.
What California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower said: “This campaign is an essential way for the Labor Commissioner’s Office to extend our voice and message to workers across the state. California’s labor laws protect all workers, regardless of immigration status. We want workers to know that you matter, and you can defend yourself by documenting wage theft and contacting my office.”
The campaign is hosted on www.WageTheftIsACrime.com with information in plain language about labor laws and how to take action by documenting wage theft and contacting the Labor Commissioner’s Office.
About the Labor Commissioner’s Office
DIR’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (California Labor Commissioner’s Office) combats wage theft and unfair competition by investigating allegations of illegal and unfair business practices.
The LCO in 2020 launched an interdisciplinary outreach campaign, “Reaching Every Californian.” The campaign amplifies basic protections and builds pathways to affected populations, so workers and employers understand legal protections and obligations, as well as the Labor Commissioner’s enforcement procedures.
Workers who have questions about labor laws enforced by the LCO can call 1-833-LCO-INFO (833-526-4636) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Californians can follow the Labor Commissioner on Facebook and X (Twitter).
Employers with Questions on Requirements May Contact: MakeItFair@dir.ca.gov
Media Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161