🧭 Freelancer's Roadmap: Fighting Wage Theft & Contributor Ghosting
When Systems Forget the Human Behind the Work
Removed without dialogue. No explanation. No acknowledgment. Just a finality wrapped in corporate silence.
This is about the quiet theft of time, dignity, and trust. When systems treat contributors as disposable, they reveal their true architecture—not one of innovation, but of extraction.
Because silence is complicity, and we refuse to be complicit in our own erasure.
This document exists not to seek pity, but to preserve truth. This isn't just one story—it's a call for ethical accountability in the gig economy.
⚖️ The Legal Reality: Your Rights Under Contract Law
💼
Quantum Meruit
You must be paid for work performed, even without a formal contract.
🤝
Good Faith
Both parties must honor agreements and deal honestly.
🚨
Material Breach
Nonpayment constitutes a serious violation with potential penalties.
Critical Principle: Termination does NOT void the obligation to pay for services rendered. Under contract law and principles of quantum meruit, withholding payment for completed or substantially completed work constitutes a material breach of contract.
📋 Your Action Plan: Step-by-Step Escalation
1
Send Your Final Professional Follow-Up
⏰ Before escalating, create a clear paper trail
What to Include:
- Summary of work completed: Specific dates, hours, deliverables
- Payment owed: Exact amount based on agreed rate (e.g., $25/hr × hours worked)
- Timeline of communication: When you were removed, any prior correspondence
- Deadline for response: Give them 7-10 business days
- Statement of next steps: "If I do not receive payment or a substantive response by [DATE], I will be filing formal complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor, Federal Trade Commission, and Better Business Bureau, and will pursue all available legal remedies."
📎 Gather Your Evidence Now:
- All email correspondence
- Screenshots of work platform (projects, hours, removal notice)
- Contract or terms of service you agreed to
- Time logs or work samples
- Payment history (if any prior payments were made)
- Any communications about your removal
2
File a Wage Complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor
The DOL's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigates wage theft claims, including for independent contractors in certain circumstances.
Phone: 1-866-487-9243 (1-866-4-US-WAGE)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm local time
How to File:
- Visit the complaint page and follow instructions for your state
- Provide detailed information:
- Your role (independent contractor/freelancer)
- Company name and location (Alignerr or relevant employer)
- Nature of work performed
- Dates of employment/contract
- Hours worked and rate of pay
- Total amount owed
- Evidence of work and non-payment
- Explain the circumstances: Removed from platform without notice, no explanation, payment withheld
⚠️ Note: The DOL primarily covers employees, but many states have expanded protections for independent contractors. File anyway—the worst they can say is they lack jurisdiction, and they may refer you to the appropriate state agency.
3
Report to Your State Labor Department
State labor departments often have broader authority over contractor wage claims than federal agencies.
Find Your State Agency:
- Search: "[Your State] Department of Labor wage complaint"
- Many states have online complaint forms specifically for unpaid wages
- Some states have dedicated Freelancer/Independent Contractor divisions
States with Strong Freelancer Protections: New York, California, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington have robust laws protecting freelance workers from non-payment.
4
File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
If the company used deceptive practices, misrepresented terms, or engaged in unfair business practices, the FTC wants to know.
Phone: 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-HELP)
What to Report:
- Category: Select "Business Practices" or "Job-Related" depending on available options
- Describe:
- How you were recruited (job posting, platform, etc.)
- Terms that were promised vs. what happened
- Sudden termination without explanation
- Refusal to pay for completed work
- Any deceptive practices in their hiring/contracting process
- Impact: Emphasize this appears to be a pattern affecting multiple workers
Why This Matters: While the FTC won't get you your money directly, they track patterns of abuse. Multiple complaints can trigger investigations and enforcement actions.
5
Submit a Complaint to the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
BBB complaints create public records that can pressure companies and warn other potential workers.
How to File:
- Search for the company by name, location, or website
- Complete the complaint form with:
- Detailed description of the issue
- Amount of money involved
- What resolution you're seeking (payment owed)
- Your attempts to resolve (your final follow-up email)
- Your deadline and stated next steps
- Upload evidence: Screenshots, contracts, correspondence
Timeline: The business has 14 days to respond. If they don't, it becomes part of their public record. You can update your complaint as the situation evolves.
6
Consider Small Claims Court
For amounts typically under $5,000-$10,000 (varies by state), small claims court is designed for individuals to pursue disputes without attorneys.
Key Points:
- Cost: Usually $30-$100 filing fee
- Process: Simplified, no lawyer needed
- Timeline: Hearing typically within 30-90 days
- Jurisdiction: File in the county where the company is located or where you performed the work
- What you need: Your evidence packet, clear accounting of owed wages, proof of your attempts to resolve
Find Your Court:
Search "[Your County] small claims court" for specific procedures and filing information
7
Consult with an Employment/Contract Attorney
For larger amounts or complex situations, legal representation may be worthwhile.
Free/Low-Cost Options:
- Legal Aid Organizations: Search "[Your State] legal aid society"
- Bar Association Referrals: Many offer free consultations
- Law School Clinics: Free legal help from supervised students
- Contingency Lawyers: Some attorneys take wage cases on contingency (they only get paid if you win)
8
Document and Share Your Experience
Protect others and create accountability through public documentation.
Where to Share:
- Glassdoor: Leave a review warning others about payment practices
- Indeed: Company reviews are read by job seekers
- Reddit: Subreddits like r/freelance, r/WorkOnline, r/antiwork
- Industry-specific forums: Where others in your field might encounter this company
- LinkedIn: Professional but public post about the experience (be factual, not emotional)
⚠️ Legal Caution: Stick to facts, avoid emotional language, include documentation. Truth is an absolute defense against defamation, but be measured in your language.
📅 Recommended Timeline
- Day 1: Send final professional follow-up with 7-10 day deadline
- Day 2-3: File DOL complaint, state labor complaint, FTC complaint, BBB complaint (do them all at once)
- Day 8-11: If no response by deadline, research small claims court
- Day 14: File small claims if appropriate
- Day 15-30: Consult with attorney if needed
- Ongoing: Document everything, respond to agency inquiries promptly
💪 Remember: You Have Rights
As a freelance worker, you are entitled to:
- Payment for all work completed
- Clear communication about termination
- Respect and professional treatment
- Access to legal remedies when wronged
Wage theft is theft. It doesn't matter if it's called "termination" or "platform removal" or any other euphemism. If you did the work and aren't paid, that's theft—and it's illegal.
🎯 Final Thoughts: Why This Matters
Every complaint filed, every BBB review, every small claims case creates a paper trail. It makes it harder for companies to continue these practices. It warns other workers. It builds toward systemic change.
Your individual case matters. But it's also part of a larger movement toward accountability in the gig economy.
You are not disposable. Your work has value. And you deserve to be paid.