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A Wage Claim

N.D.C.C. § 34-14-09 — a claim with the labor department within two years, for $125 to $15,000

An employee may file a claim with the department for wages due within two years from the date they were due, when the amount is at least $125 and not more than $15,000. Wages are due on the regular payday after the period they were earned. A smaller claim is pointed to small claims court, a larger one to district court.

  • N.D.C.C. § 34-14-09
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  • The labor commissioner investigates, may hold hearings and subpoena records, and may enter workplaces to inspect them.
  • When the commissioner finds the wages are owed and the claim enforceable, the commissioner may take an assignment of it on the employee's request and sue to collect.
  • Filing with the commissioner pauses the time limit for suing until the claim is found unenforceable or handed back.

On top of the wages, the employee recovers interest from the date they were due. The wages are doubled if, within one year before, the employer was found liable on two earlier wage claims, and trebled after three or more.

Sources for this section (3)
  1. N.D.C.C. § 34-14-09 — Employees' remedies - Limitation on wages collectible
  2. N.D.C.C. § 34-14-09.1 — Interest on unpaid wages - Amount of recovery - Exception
  3. N.D.C.C. § 34-14-05 — Enforcement

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Dakota attorney.

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