San Jose, California — Santa Clara County officials have announced plans to prosecute residential care homeowners for wage theft, following revelations of widespread labor exploitation in the adult and elderly care industry.
One Filipino woman, who arrived in San Jose in 2016, shared her harrowing experience. Hired as a live-in caretaker, she endured around-the-clock labor without overtime pay, her passport confiscated, and her privacy violated.
For over a year, she cared for six elderly adults with dementia, working from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, often sleeping poorly and without compensation. “He took advantage of me,” she said, requesting anonymity.
Key developments include:
- Formation of an advisory council of workers, advocates, care homeowners, and agencies
- Prosecution plans targeting repeat offenders
- A new public dashboard of unpaid wage theft judgments, launching in June 2026
A 2021 Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition study found:
- 1,628 wage theft cases
- 3,474 affected employees
- Over $15 million in unpaid wages
The Department of Social Services licenses these homes but lacks oversight measures such as required staffing ratios and payroll audits. According to advocates like Ruth Silver-Taube, this has enabled systemic abuse.
If you or someone you know has been affected by wage theft, contact us today. Our employment lawyers in California offer free, confidential consultations and help victims pursue financial compensation.
