EPLI News

Tesla Settles Employee’s California Suit Alleging Pervasive Harassment

Tesla settled a racial discrimination lawsuit by a Black female employee who claimed a manager at its Fremont, California, plant sometimes greeted workers by saying “welcome to the plantation” or “welcome to the slave house.” Raina Pierce, who installed latches …

California School District Settles Age Discrimination Case

The Washington Unified School District in Fresno, Calif. settled a federal charge of firing a 65-year-old teacher. The age discrimination charge was filed in April 2022 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that the employee was denied reasonable …

Southern California Restaurant Fined $1.1M for Labor Violations

A Southern California restaurant has been fined more than $1.1 million over wage theft and sick leave violations. The California Labor Commissioner’s Office took the action against Food Source LLC, a Buena Park restaurant, issuing penalties for wage theft and …

Contractor Fined $430K for California Labor Violations

A construction company was fined more than $430,000 for California labor violations that resulted in unpaid wages, overtime and other violations. The state’s Labor Commissioner’s Office secured the settlement to return unpaid wages and damages to 86 carpenters employed by …

Justice Department Launches Hostile Workplace Probe into University of California

The Justice Department opened an investigation into the University of California to determine if the UC system has allowed an Antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses. The investigation, being conducted under Title VII of the Civil Rights …

Seattle Tunnel Subcontractor to Pay $370K to Underpaid Workers

A Seattle tunnel subcontractor will pay more than $370,000 in back wages after underpaying workers on the project. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries determined that Glacier Northwest Inc. failed to meet prevailing wage requirements, paying workers at …

Businesses Sue State Over New California Workplace Law

California businesses are suing to halt a new state law that bars them from requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings at work. The state’s Chamber of Commerce and California Restaurant Association filed the suit in federal court on New Year’s …

California Labor Commissioner Fines Luxury Resort $4.4M for Worker Recall Violations

The Labor Commissioner’s Office fined the Maybourne Beverly Hills $4.4 million for violating California’s Worker Recall Law. The LCO issued the fine in response to the a luxury resort’s failure to rehire employees who were laid off during the COVID-19 …

California Labor Commissioner Cites 19 Car Washes $1.3M for Violations

The California Labor Commissioner’s Office issued $1.3 million in fines for wage theft restitution and civil penalties against 19 car washes in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County and in Orange County. The LCO reportedly found that the …

Department of Labor Fines California Retirement Home $137K for Back Wages, Damages

A California assisted living facility for seniors was fined more than $137,000 after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division reportedly found the facility failed to properly account and pay for all overtime hours worked …