Los Angeles senior living facility to pay $81K in back wages, damages to 17 workers after violating labor laws

Employers: Astoria Quality Senior Living, a residential care facility doing business as Astoria II

Location: 8041 Blackburn Ave., Los Angeles, California

Investigation findings: An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that Astoria II paid employees a flat daily rate without regard for the number of hours that they worked. This practice resulted in overtime violations when employees worked more than 40 hours in a week but were not paid an overtime premium, as is required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Investigators also found that the care facility for seniors failed to keep accurate records of the hours employees worked, in violation of FLSA’s recordkeeping provisions.

Resolution: Astoria II has agreed to pay $40,795 in back wages plus an equal, additional amount in damages, totaling $81,590 to 17 underpaid employees.

Quote: “Regardless of the method of pay, employers must make sure they pay overtime to eligible employees when they work more than 40 hours,” said Susan Bacon, assistant district director for the Wage and Hour Division in Los Angeles. “Thanks to this investigation, these hard-working employees will now receive the wages they have rightfully earned. The resolution of this case demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that workers take home every penny they deserve, and that employers that play by the rules are not operating at a competitive disadvantage to those who do not.” 

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/.