News Release
US Department of Labor finds luxury apartment complex in San Jose’s historic Japantown denied maintenance workers overtime wages owed
SAN JOSE, CA – A U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division investigation found that the owner of a luxury apartment rental property in San Jose’s historic Japantown denied maintenance workers overtime wages, and failed to keep accurate records of employees’ earnings in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Division investigators found Miraido Village LLC – owner and operator of Miraido Village Apartments – failed to pay the workers the legally required overtime rate when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. Investigators found that, although the employer knew of their legal obligation to pay overtime, they deliberately violated the law and continued to pay the overtime hours at an improper rate. On average, the workers labored more than 50 hours per week.
“Employers who shortchange workers hurt the very people on whom they depend. In this case, maintenance workers served the many needs of the complex’s tenants and the property. The property’s owner chose to violate the law and has learned – as will others who willfully violate labor laws – that wage theft has very serious consequences,” said Wage and Hour District Director Susana Blanco in San Jose, California. “The Wage and Hour Division encourages employers to review their pay practices and to contact us for information about how to avoid violations of federal labor laws.”
Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions – regardless of their immigration status – and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages. For more information about the FLSA and other laws the division enforces, contact its toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.
