Seventy employees from two ice manufacturing companies in California are set to receive over $1 million in back wages and damages. This follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, which found that the companies had deliberately withheld $527,687 in overtime pay.
The Wage and Hour Division of the department discovered that San Diego Ice Company and California Ice Company, located in Lake Elsinore, paid their workers regular hourly rates for all hours worked. They failed to comply with federal requirements to track and compensate time-and-a-half for hours exceeding 40 per week. Many employees reportedly worked an average of 16 unpaid overtime hours weekly.
"The owners of the San Diego Ice Company and California Ice Company willfully violated the rights of 70 hard-working people who work around the clock to help these companies be successful," stated Jose Medina, Assistant District Director at the Wage and Hour Division in San Diego. "The U.S. Department of Labor will not tolerate such callous and illegal mistreatment of employees who are simply trying to provide for themselves and their families. We will use all available enforcement tools to hold employers accountable for compliance."
The division has arranged for $527,687 in unpaid overtime alongside $527,687 in liquidated damages to be distributed among affected employees through a 12-month installment plan. Additionally, both companies face civil money penalties totaling $36,358 due to their intentional Fair Labor Standards Act violations.
"On average, these employees will receive about $15,000 each, a sizeable amount for people trying to make ends meet on hourly wages," Medina added.
For further information on federal labor rights enforced by the division or if you believe you may be owed back wages collected by them, contact their toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). The division offers support regardless of workers' origins and can communicate in over 200 languages. Their Timesheet App is also available free on Android and iOS devices in English and Spanish.
