[Los Angeles, CA] The California Labor Commissioner’s Office has reached a $1.47 million settlement with three poultry companies and their owner over wage theft citations. More than 300 workers were affected by violations committed by five Los Angeles-area poultry processors.
The affected workers were not provided paid rest breaks, were not paid properly for overtime, and were not compensated for the time required to wait for shipments of chicken to arrive and for the deboned chicken to be removed from their work area. Some workers also made less than minimum wage.
The California poultry processors also failed to maintain workers’ compensation coverage. The settlement resolves litigation following a 2021 hearing officer decision. The three client employer companies, their owner, and the poultry processors were found liable for unpaid wages, damages, penalties, as well as workers’ compensation violations.
The affected workers will receive $901,032 in unpaid wages, damages, and interest. The poultry processors will pay an additional $397,150 in civil penalties for minimum wage, overtime, rest period, and waiting time violations.
This settlement is just one of many recent actions taken by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office to crack down on wage theft and other workplace violations. In 2021 alone, the office issued over $125 million in wage theft citations and recovered over $88 million in unpaid wages for workers.
The Commissioner’s Office has also been increasing its enforcement efforts, conducting more investigations, and pursuing more legal action against employers who violate California labor laws. These efforts are aimed at ensuring that workers are paid fairly and that employers who break the law are held accountable for their actions.
If you believe your employer has violated your rights as an employee, don’t hesitate to contact the experienced California employment lawyers at Labor Law Advocates. Our team can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
