Employer's liability -- Unpaid wages and liquidated damages -- Punitive damages for forced labor or services -- Period of limitation
KRS 337.385
in effect337.385. Employer's liability -- Unpaid wages and liquidated damages -- Punitive damages for forced labor or services -- Period of limitation
(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, any employer who pays any employee less than wages and overtime compensation to which such employee is entitled under or by virtue of KRS 337.020 to 337.285 shall be liable to such employee affected for the full amount of such wages and overtime compensation, less any amount actually paid to such employee by the employer, for an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, and for costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court.
(2) If, in any action commenced to recover such unpaid wages or liquidated damages, the employer shows to the satisfaction of the court that the act or omission giving rise to such action was in good faith and that he or she had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her act or omission was not a violation of KRS 337.020 to 337.285, the court may, in its sound discretion, award no liquidated damages, or award any amount thereof not to exceed the amount specified in this section. Any agreement between such employee and the employer to work for less than the applicable wage rate shall be no defense to such action. Such action may be maintained in any court of competent jurisdiction by any one (1) or more employees for and in behalf of himself, herself, or themselves.
(3) If the court finds that the employer has subjected the employee to forced labor or services as defined in KRS 529.010, the court shall award the employee punitive damages not less than three (3) times the full amount of the wages and overtime compensation due, less any amount actually paid to such employee by the employer, and for costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court, including interest thereon.
(4) At the written request of any employee paid less than the amount to which he or she is entitled under the provisions of KRS 337.020 to 337.285, the commissioner may take an assignment of such wage claim in trust for the assigning employee and may bring any legal action necessary to collect such claim, and the employer shall be required to pay the costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court. The commissioner in case of suit shall have power to join various claimants against the same employer in one (1) action.
(5) Any court or administrative action under any provision of this chapter, not otherwise subject to an express period of limitations, shall be commenced within three (3) years after the cause of action accrued.
Effective: July 15, 2024
History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 157, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 25, sec. 25, effective June 25, 2013. -- Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 24, sec. 1735, effective July 15, 2010. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 340, sec. 4, effective June 17, 1978. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 391, sec. 9.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55338Fetched: 10/20/2026