The United States Department of Labor has successfully recovered $180,299 in damages and back wages from three residential construction contractors in Orange County. These contractors were found in violation of federal regulations, depriving workers of their rightful and legal compensation.
Violations included the misclassification of workers as independent contractors by an employer, a common offense in the construction sector. This incorrect classification often leads to workers being deprived of their full legal and legitimate payments, including wages, benefits, and proper protections under federal law.
The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor conducted thorough investigations, revealing that three Southern California companies violated their workers’ rights. The division successfully recovered $90,150 in back wages and an equivalent amount in damages for the affected workers. Additionally, civil monetary fines totaling $5,319 were imposed.
Lawsuit details:
Skeffington Enterprises Inc., a general contractor in Santa Ana operating as Ben’s Asphalt, deprived workers of their total income by not paying overtime rates for hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek. The violation occurred because the employer deducted hours not taken for lunch. The division successfully recovered $111,253 for 20 employees.
Ziegler Inc., a manufacturer and installer of garage doors and iron gates in Anaheim, failed to pay workers the minimum wage and overtime rates. The department recovered $54,964 in back wages and damages for 19 employees and imposed $3,324 in fines.
ABC Builders LLC, a construction contractor in Costa Mesa, incorrectly classified security guards as independent contractors, did not pay overtime for hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek, and did not maintain complete records. The division recovered $7,041 in back wages, an equivalent amount in damages for three workers, and imposed $1,995 in fines.
Combatting Labor Law Violations:
“The common violations of labor laws in the construction sector include misclassification of employees, piece-rate payments without corresponding overtime compensation, paying overtime at regular rates, and failure to compensate for all hours worked,” stated Min Park-Chung, District Director of the Wage and Hour Division in San Diego. “It’s time for employers to do the right thing, comply with the law, and pay workers all their earnings.”
If you or a loved one is facing labor law violations by your employer, feel free to contact Labor Law Advocates. Together, we can fight against labor law violations in California to achieve a fair and just working environment.
