Until Denver implemented its municipal wage theft ordinance, victims of wage theft who suffered losses of less than $2,000 had no meaningful path to criminal prosecution and, consequently, restitution. Thanks to this ordinance, victims now have a means of pursuing criminal charges. In these cases, the City Attorney’s Office would will prosecute, thus saving the victim the money needed to hire a lawyer or even a private investigator. The ordinance prohibits an employer from denying or withholding a wage owed to any worker who is not a true independent contractor. The ordinance includes provisions to ensure that workers who are misclassified as independent contractors receive protection, as well as an anti-retaliation provision, and annual reporting to City Council.