Underpay: meaning, definitions and examples
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underpay
[ ˌʌndərˈpeɪ ]
employment practices
To underpay means to pay someone less than what they are worth or less than the established rate for their work. This can occur in various contexts, such as employees earning lower wages compared to industry standards or freelancers receiving inadequate compensation for their services. Underpayment can lead to dissatisfaction among workers and may violate labor laws. Addressing underpayment is crucial for fair labor practices and ensuring employees are justly compensated for their efforts.
Synonyms
cheat, devalue, shortchange, undervalue
Examples of usage
- The company tends to underpay its workers.
- She felt underpaid for the amount of work she was doing.
- Many teachers are underpaid despite their crucial role in society.
Translations
Translations of the word "underpay" in other languages:
🇵🇹 subpagar
🇮🇳 अल्प वेतन देना
🇩🇪 unterbezahlen
🇮🇩 membayar kurang
🇺🇦 недоплачувати
🇵🇱 niedopłacać
🇯🇵 過少支払いする
🇫🇷 sous-payer
🇪🇸 subpagar
🇹🇷 az ödünç vermek
🇰🇷 저임금 지급하다
🇸🇦 دفع أقل من المستحق
🇨🇿 podplácet
🇸🇰 podplatiť
🇨🇳 支付不足
🇸🇮 podplačevati
🇮🇸 láglauna
🇰🇿 төмен жалақы төлеу
🇬🇪 ნაკლებად გადახდა
🇦🇿 az ödəmək
🇲🇽 pagar menos
Etymology
The term 'underpay' is a compound of the prefix 'under-', meaning 'below' or 'less than', and 'pay', which refers to the compensation one receives for work or services rendered. The word 'pay' originates from the Old French 'paier', which derives from the Latin 'pacare', meaning 'to pacify or appease'. The concept of underpayment has become increasingly relevant in discussions about labor rights and economic inequality. It highlights the disparity between the value of work performed and the remuneration provided. The emergence of minimum wage laws and labor unions in the 20th century aimed to combat underpayment, advocating for fair compensation. Today, underpayment remains a critical issue in various industries, provoking debates about ethical employment practices and worker rights.