California Cites Home Health Agencies $2M for Misclassifying 66 Workers
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office cited Angel Connection Nursing Care and Angel Connection Nursing Services for improperly misclassifying 66 home health care workers as independent contractors.
Investigators determined that Annabelle Ricasata, the owner of Angel Connection Nursing Care, and a full-time employee of Angel Connection Nursing Services, reportedly misclassified the employees as independent contractors to avoid paying required wages, workers’ compensation insurance and payroll taxes.
The two Long Beach-based companies were ordered to pay more than $1.8 million for the wage theft violations, including failure to pay 22 workers overtime wages, nine of whom were also not paid minimum wages due. One of the businesses also reportedly failed to maintain workers’ comp insurance or provide proper itemized wage statements for the misclassified employees.
The Labor Commissioner’s Office opened its investigation into Angel Connection Inc. (dba Angel Connection Nursing Services) and J Jireh Group (which uses the name Angel Connection Nursing Care) following a referral from the Pilipino Workers Center and Bet Tzedek Legal Services.
Angel Connection Nursing Services reportedly exercised control over the wages, hours and working conditions of Angel Connection Nursing Care’s employees who were misclassified as independent contractors.
Angel Connection Nursing Care owner Ricasata and Angel Connection Nursing Services owners Merjilyn Chu and Joseph Fortunato were found jointly and severally liable for the $1,021,393 due to workers, which includes $213,163 in unpaid minimum wages, $283,058 in liquidated damages, $329,515 in overtime wages, $14,123 contract wages, and $181,534 in interest.
Angel Connection Nursing Care is also liable for $330,000 for the misclassification of 66 workers, $171,000 for failure to provide itemized wage statements, and $357,046 for a stop order penalty assessment for failure to provide workers’ comp insurance.
California law requires civil penalties to be transferred to the State’s General Fund when collected.