underpays
Gives inadequate wages
Underpays is the third-person singular of underpay—to pay less than what is owed, deserved, or standard.
An employer underpays workers when wages fall below market rate or legal minimum: The company routinely underpays its warehouse staff.
Someone underpays a bill when they remit less than the amount due.
Gives back too little
- stiffsCorpses or non-tippers
- cheatsDeceives for advantage
- skimpsProvides insufficiently
- defraudsCheats someone of assets
swindles · fleeces · scams · bilks · withholds · squeezes · rips off · lowballs
Employer withholding earned compensation
- minimum wageLowest lawful hourly rate
- living wageIncome covering necessities
- fair compensationAppropriate payment for work
- overtimeWork beyond scheduled hours
workers' rights · collective bargaining · unionization · employment law · prevailing wage · compensation · hourly rate · piece rate
Experiencing serious difficulty
- stretchedPulled to lengthen
- hand-to-mouthConsuming resources immediately
- working poorEmployed but below comfort
- undercompensatedPaid below fair value
overworked · burned out · subsistence · poverty wages · below poverty line · food insecure · squeezed
Rated below true worth
- disrespectedTreated with contempt
- unappreciatedNot given due recognition
- devaluedLowered in worth
- wrongedTreated with injustice
cheated · shortchanged · taken advantage of · exploited · overworked · burned out · disgruntled · dissatisfied
Disparity in earnings
- gender gapInequality between sexes
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
two-tier · stratification · glass ceiling · devaluation · marginalization · motherhood penalty
shortchanges
Gives back too little
defrauds · swindles · fleeces · scams · bilks · withholds · squeezes · rips off · lowballs · docks
wage theft
Employer withholding earned compensation
- minimum wageLowest lawful hourly rate
- living wageIncome covering necessities
- fair compensationAppropriate payment for work
overtime · workers' rights · collective bargaining · unionization · employment law · prevailing wage · compensation · hourly rate · piece rate · sweatshop
struggling
Experiencing serious difficulty
- stretchedPulled to lengthen
- hand-to-mouthConsuming resources immediately
- working poorEmployed but below comfort
undercompensated · overworked · burned out · subsistence · poverty wages · below poverty line · food insecure · squeezed
undervalued
Rated below true worth
- disrespectedTreated with contempt
- unappreciatedNot given due recognition
- devaluedLowered in worth
wronged · cheated · shortchanged · taken advantage of · exploited · overworked · burned out · disgruntled · dissatisfied · resentful
wage gap
Disparity in earnings
- gender gapInequality between sexes
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
inequity · two-tier · stratification · glass ceiling · devaluation · marginalization · motherhood penalty