US Department of Labor recovers $158K in back wages, damages for 91 workers at California warehouse after employer failed to pay workers

BUENA PARK, CA – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation recovered $158,096 in back wages and liquidated damages for employees of a global medical products manufacturer that failed to pay workers, putting many of them at risk of being unable to provide for their basic needs.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division found DRE Health Corp. – operating as DRE WorldMask USA Ltd. – violated the Fair Labor Standards Act when it wrongfully misclassified warehouse workers in Orange County as independent contractors and failed to pay them the wages and overtime pay they earned.

The investigation led to the recovery of $79,048 in back wages and an equal amount of $79,048 in liquidated damages for 91 workers. The division also assessed $4,936 in penalties against the employer.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to the protection of workers’ rights and works tirelessly to ensure workers are paid all of their hard-earned wages. DRE Health Corp. exploited vulnerable workers by misclassifying them and denying them vital protections such as required wages and overtime. This harmed the workers and their families,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Eric Murray in San Diego. “The Wage and Hour Division holds employers accountable when they violate the law to prevent them from taking advantage of workers and gaining an unfair competitive advantage by engaging in wage theft.”

Based in Overland Park, Kansas, DRE Health Corp. is an international manufacturer of medical products. The company operates offices globally and has manufacturing facilities in several countries.

In fiscal year 2021, the Wage and Hour Division helped more than 190,000 workers and recovered more than $230 million in total back wages.

The division enforces the law regardless of a worker’s immigration status and can speak confidentially with callers in more than 200 languages.

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the division, 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.