Do You Believe Things are Quieting Down in the Labor and Tax Enforcement World?
If you do, take a look at a few excerpts taken from a single State of California website of the Economic and Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC). There are many more “Press Releases” on this and other government websites, documenting the aggressive actions being taken to fine and penalize businesses for not following labor and employment tax laws, especially in California.
Here are a few recent examples:
May 7, 2009, Los Angeles-State investigators from the Economic and Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC) issued citations over $130,000 for multiple labor law violations to a Los Angeles restaurant owner found to be operating illegally for more than ten years. The Los Angeles District Attorney was notified and is now investigating the company for operating without workers’ compensation coverage.
May 5, 2009, San Francisco, CA- Investigators from the California Labor Commissioner’s Office issued over $770,000 in fines to businesses in the car wash industry for numerous labor law violations during a statewide enforcement effort last week.
April 24, 2009, Santa Rosa-A referral made by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health-better known as Cal/OSHA, to the Sonoma County District Attorney of a Santa Rosa roofing company for violations of state safety regulations leading to the death of one roofer and the permanent disability of another has resulted in a conviction of two felony counts for violating State worker safety laws.
April 23, 2009, Sacramento- Today Acting Secretary Doug Hoffner released the following statement after the San Joaquin County District Attorney filed Involuntary Manslaughter charges and California Labor Code violations in the May 2008 death of 17-year-old farm worker Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez. The case brought against Merced Farm Labor followed an investigation by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health-better known as Cal/OSHA, which revealed neglectful acts on the part of the employer. Following the referral to the District Attorney, Cal/OSHA collaborated to bring forward information needed for the prosecution.
April 17, 2009, Los Angeles-California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet and Attorney General Edmund G. Brown have prevailed with a judgment totaling $13,640,819 against janitorial companies Excell Cleaning and Building Services Inc., a Delaware Corporation and M.O. Restaurant Cleaning of California Inc., a California Corporation.
March 30, 2009, San Francisco-In a continuing enforcement effort of California’s public works laws, the State Labor Commissioner issued an Order of Debarment against All Floor Commercial and Residential Flooring of Campbell and company owner, Salvador Elias Perera, prohibiting them from bidding on or receiving any public works projects for three years. The prohibition, officially known as a debarment, begins on May 15, 2009.
Dec. 23, 2008, San Diego-California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet yesterday filed a lawsuit with the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego in unpaid wages totaling close $250,000 against Einstein Industries Inc., a San Diego online health care and legal marketing company.
November 12, 2008, San Francisco-State investigators from the California Labor Commissioners’ Office issued 71 citations totaling $267,600 in fines in a two-day statewide enforcement sweep of businesses in the agricultural industry including nurseries, greenhouses, landscapers, farm labor contractors, dairies, growers and other agricultural businesses.
September 16, 2008, San Francisco-California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet has prevailed in a federal lawsuit filed by a personal talent manager who sought to challenge the constitutionality of the California Talent Agency Act (TAA)….Bradstreet said following last week’s ruling. “If you procure employment for talent in any form you must be licensed as a talent agent or face legal action against you.”
There were more
The point is the State of California has a very aggressive program to penalize businesses that are not properly classifying and paying their workers. These “raids” usually focus on certain industries then move on to other industries when the enforcement agencies decide there is a greener pasture. You need to get things in order before they graze in your pasture.
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