San Diego, California — The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina faces a $9.4 million penalty from the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) for violating state worker recall laws. The fine addresses the hotel’s failure to rehire 15 employees who were laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An investigation by the LCO revealed that between November 2021 and November 2024, the hotel did not comply with Labor Code Section 2810.8. This law requires hospitality employers to offer available positions to workers displaced due to the pandemic. Some affected employees had worked for the hotel for 35 years.
“The law is clear,” said Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower. “When jobs reopen, the workers who spent years—sometimes decades—building these companies must be given their rightful chance to return to work. Such blatant disregard for workers’ rights will not be tolerated.”
Reports from former employees prompted the investigation, which found the hotel repeatedly neglected its obligations. Despite reopening in 2021, the Marriott Marquis failed to offer reemployment to long-serving staff, including banquet captains. The assessed damages will compensate the affected workers for lost wages and missed opportunities.
California’s worker recall law, enacted through SB 93 in 2021, mandates reemployment offers to laid-off hospitality workers based on seniority. The law safeguards positions such as housekeepers, cooks, and event staff until December 2025.
