Pandemic workers face another danger: wage theft
Essential workers struggling through the pandemic face another danger in difficult times: employers stealing their wages. An analysis by the Center for Public Integrity found that companies have little incentive to comply with the law. (May 4th)
AP
Children as young as 14 working in various Bay Area subways were ordered to use dangerous equipment and work hours that were not permitted by law. And now the Subway owners must pay them nearly $1 million in back wages and damages, according to an order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Federal investigators found that the owners and operators failed to pay their employees regularly, wrote them hundreds of bad checks and illegally stole tips. The court also ordered the owners to close their businesses by November 27.
The allegations were made against John Meza, Jessica Meza and Hamza Ayesh. Investigators found that the Mezas, the owners, obstructed the Wage and Hour Department’s review of the allegations and also coerced employees not to cooperate with the investigation. They also threatened children who raised concerns or attempted to exercise their legal rights.
Investigators also discovered that Meza’s employee, Ayesh, threatened an employee who complained about his bounced paycheck.
The Mezas were ordered to pay 184 workers $475,000 in minimum wage, overtime and tips, the same amount in liquidated damages and $150,000 in penalties. According to the court order, the Mezas and Ayesh must also pay $12,000 in punitive damages for their retaliatory behavior.
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Bay Area Subway’s operations are under investigation
Subway Bay Area’s 14 locations are under investigation and litigation is ongoing:
- 2777 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, California
- 1026 Oak St., Suite #103, Clayton, California
- 301 Sun Valley Mall, Concord, California
- 8500 Gravestein Highway, Unit B, Cotati, California
- 2375 California Blvd., Napa, California
- 3214 Jefferson St., Napa, California
- 902 Enterprise Way, Unit A, Napa, California
- 2620 Lakeville Highway, Unit #320, Petaluma, California
- 221 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, California
- 961 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, California
- 13501 San Pablo Ave, San Pablo, California
- 124-B Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa, California
- 199 Lincoln Road West, C, Vallejo, California
- 6400 Hembree Lane, Unit #100, Windsor, California