Southern California Restaurant Fined $1.1M for Labor Violations

A Southern California restaurant has been fined more than $1.1 million over wage theft and sick leave violations.

The California Labor Commissioner’s Office took the action against Food Source LLC, a Buena Park restaurant, issuing penalties for wage theft and failure to comply with paid sick leave laws that impacted at least 90 workers, with 73 employees owed more than $532,000 in unpaid wages, overtime, liquidated damages, and incomplete wage statements.

The LCO also filed a lawsuit seeking nearly $576,000 in unpaid wages, damages, and penalties related to the employer’s failure to provide sick leave. The suit also addresses violations such as denying workers access to paid sick leave, failing to document sick leave availability on pay stubs, and not providing supplemental paid sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under California’s Healthy Workplace, Healthy Families Act of 2014, employees who work at least 30 days in a year are entitled to accrue paid sick leave, which can be used for personal or family health needs. The law requires employers to inform workers of their sick leave rights, document accrued balance, and ensure access to leave when needed.

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