A Phoenix-area landscaping company and its owner were ordered to pay $185,000 in back wages and damages to 66 employees after it reportedly lied to investigators, intimidated workers and used illegal pay practices.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona ordered Artificial Grass Masters and Sun Screens for Less, and its owner, Joshua Apodoca, to make the payments under a consent agreement, plus an additional $15,000 in penalties for the willful nature of the company’s violations, according to a May 4 release.
“The Wage and Hour Division will not tolerate retaliatory action and intimidation against workers,” Wage and Hour Division District Director Eric Murray in Phoenix said, according to the release. “Employees have a legal right to be paid their wages in full, to seek the wages they have earned and to assist investigators without fear of harm, threats or harassment. Retaliation is a priority for the division, and we will use every tool avilable to enforce the law, prevent wage theft and address employer intimidation.”
The Department of Labor investigation found Artificial Grass Masters denied overtime pay, paid workers in cash and off-the-books, intimidated workers and lied to investigators, the release reported.
“Intimidating employees because they exercise their rights strikes at the heart of government enforcement efforts,” Regional Solicitor of Labor Marc Pilotin in San Francisco said, according to the release.
Pilotin said the department is prepared to protect employees from intimidation and retaliation. It holds employers accountable for using intimidation to silence their employees, according to the release.
