Workers have the right to earn a fair wage. Laws are put in place to govern hourly wages for workers in order to prevent individuals from unfair compensation. Unfortunately, not all employers abide by these laws, and some workers may suffer due to not receiving the pay needed to provide for themselves and their families.
It was recently reported that a company in California was fined for wage theft violations. The situation involved a contractor who utilized hundreds of workers on 26 construction projects. As part of the violations, the workers were give one 30-minute meal break, but they were not given other rest breaks. Additionally, some workers were not paid overtime, and other did not receive minimum wage. Rather than paying hourly rates, the company would provide some workers with flat rates, which often did not cover all hours or overtime pay.
As a result, the Labor Commissioner’s Office has required the company to pay $1.9 million in fines. Approximately $1.8 million of that amount will go toward the 472 workers who were not properly compensated, and $72,400 would go toward civil penalties. The violations occurred from Aug. 2014 to July 2016.
Unfair compensation should not be tolerated in the workplace. Of course, many California workers may not realized that they have been the victims of wage theft or fear that they may lose their jobs if they complain. Luckily, individuals in this type of situation can enlist legal advocates to help them understand their cases and determine the best courses of action to address the issues.