How McDonald's workers can report unpaid wages to federal WHD

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, or WHD, is the main federal agency workers should contact to report unpaid wages, minimum-wage or overtime violations, and meal or rest-break violations covered by federal law. McDonald's crew members and managers concerned about pay practices can begin a complaint by calling the toll-free WHD number at 1-866-4US-WAGE (1-866-487-9243), visiting a local WHD office, or using contact pages on dol.gov to submit concerns online.

WHD enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act and related statutes, and filing a complaint with the agency is free. Complaints are treated confidentially with limited exceptions. Workers are advised to file as soon as possible because statute-of-limitations rules generally allow two years for claims, and three years when violations are willful. Acting quickly helps preserve potential back pay and other remedies.

WHD provides multilingual resources and downloadable “How to File a Complaint” cards that explain what to document and how to submit information. Key items WHD asks workers to gather include pay records, schedules, dates and times of shifts, and employer contact information. WHD materials also offer recordkeeping advice and sample documentation lists to make complaints more effective and to accelerate investigations.

After a complaint is filed, WHD will investigate. Investigations may include interviews with witnesses, requests for payroll and scheduling documents, and other fact-finding steps. Where WHD finds violations, the agency can recover back pay for affected workers and take additional enforcement measures. WHD also explains anti-retaliation protections and the process to report employer retaliation; for certain safety-related retaliation issues, WHD points workers to OSHA and other appropriate offices.

For McDonald's employees, filing with WHD can change the workplace dynamic by creating a formal federal record and prompting enforcement that recovers wages and clarifies employer obligations. That process can also raise tensions at local restaurants, so workers should be aware of the agency’s confidentiality rules and its anti-retaliation provisions. Practical preparation—keeping accurate pay records, maintaining shift dates and times, and noting supervisor contacts—will strengthen a complaint and shorten the investigation timeline.

What to do next: gather pay stubs, schedules and any written communications about hours or breaks, then contact WHD at 1-866-4US-WAGE or visit dol.gov/agencies/whd/faq/workers to begin a complaint. Timely filing preserves legal options and increases the chance of recovering unpaid wages, making WHD an essential resource for McDonald's workers seeking enforcement and clarity on pay practices.