Wage Protection Act Makes Significant Changes to Colorado Wage and Hour Law

Significant changes to Colorado’s wage and hour law are set to go into effect on January 1, 2015, with the implementation of the Wage Protection Act of 2014 (the Act or the amendments). The Act amends the Colorado Wage Claim Act by establishing a procedure for the Colorado Division of Labor to adjudicate complaints for unpaid wages or compensation of $7,500 or less per employee, increases fines that can be imposed on employers, and provides for attorneys’ fees for employees paid less than the applicable minimum wage.