Orange County residential care facilities owner violated overtime, wage laws; to pay 138 workers $227K in back wages, damages

Employers: Elizabeth Homes Adult Residential Care, owned by Elizabeth G. Santos, Inc.

Sites: 7161 Stanton Ave., Buena Park, California (main office)
18 other facilities throughout Orange County

Investigation findings: Wage and Hour investigators found Elizabeth Homes Adult Residential Care in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act for overtime, hourly wage and record-keeping provisions. The employer failed to pay employees time-and-a-half for overtime hours and also failed to pay for all hours worked during employee’s shifts.

Resolution: The employer will pay 138 workers $113,652 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages. The employer agreed to pay the back wages and liquidated damages under a three-month installment plan, and to comply with FLSA in the future.

Quote: “Many employers in the residential home care field continue to fail to properly compensate workers for their long, hard work in this crucial but challenging field,” said Rodolfo Cortez, director of the Wage and Hour Division’s San Diego District Office. “Better cared-for workers results in better cared-for patients.”

Information: For more information about federal wage laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division, call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information also is available at http://www.dol.gov/whd/.