Department of Labor Fines California Retirement Home $137K for Back Wages, Damages
A California assisted living facility for seniors was fined more than $137,000 after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division reportedly found the facility failed to properly account and pay for all overtime hours worked by 20 employees in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Lincoln Retirement Villa in Fremont, California violated federal overtime requirements and also reportedly did not keep accurate payroll records as required by the act, according to the department.
The violations found in the case exemplify labor compliance problems in the broader healthcare industry. In fiscal year 2024, the Wage and Hour Division conducted more than 2,300 investigations and recovered more than $37.8 million in back wages for nearly 30,000 workers nationwide, according to the department.
Wages and damages recovered included: $68,672 in back wages for 20 workers; $68,672 in liquidated damages for 20 workers; $8,330 in civil money penalties due to the willful nature of violations.