Facing DOL wage charges, SoCal health care firm settles

A company that operates residential care facilities in Mission Hills and Laguna Niguel has settled federal charges it violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that Verona Court failed to pay workers when they worked through lunch periods or when they attended mandatory training outside their normal working hours. The company also didn’t pay overtime to employees who worked more than 40 hours in a week.

In all, 72 employees at 10 facilities were affected. The company will pay $173,359 to settle the matter.

Note: The Wage and Hour Division often focuses on low-paying positions such as nursing assistants in residential care facilities. Employers in similar fields can expect scrutiny.

When big companies cheat low-wage workers, that makes for bad publicity that can hurt the bottom line. Prevent such problems by paying workers fairly—and making sure your pay practices comply with the law.