Workers who want to report they've been underpaid or mistreated on the job are getting stronger protection against retaliation by their employers under a new state law that goes into effect this week.

The law toughens penalties for employers who go after employees who report violations to the state Department of Labor. The minimum civil penalty against employers has increased from $200 to $2,000. The maximum increases from $1,000 to $10,000.

That bolsters state law that has long prohibited employers from firing, demoting, reassigning or cutting the pay of a worker who files a complaint.

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