The state Labor Commissioner has cited Foster Farms and three temporary staffing agencies for nearly $3.8 million for their failure to inform 3,476 temporary workers of their available COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.
The commissioner cited Foster Farms, LLC, Foster Poultry Farms, Viking Staffing CA LLC, Human Bees Inc. and Marcos Renteria Ag Services. Inc.
The companies owe the temporary workers a total of $3,783,800 in penalties, according to a news release issued from the office of the California Labor Commissioner:
- Human Bees, Inc. owes its 1,987 temporary workers $940,050;
- Viking Staffing CA, LLC owes its 341 temporary workers $377,850; and
- Marcos Renteria Ag Services Inc. owes its 1,148 temporary workers $2,465,900.
“Workers should not have to worry about financial hardship if they need to take care of themselves or a family member who is COVID positive,” Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower said in the statement. “That’s what supplemental paid sick leave is for – it keeps sick workers at home and protects against the spread of COVID-19.”
The citations follow an investigation begun in 2020 of a Foster Farms processing plant in Livingston, after COVID-19 outbreaks were reported.
An audit of payroll records determined that the temporary staffing agencies named above hired staff to fill in for permanent workers affected by COVID-19 outbreaks at the plant, but failed to inform the temporary staff of their rights to supplemental paid sick leave. The Labor Commissioner’s Office found the temporary staffing agencies and Foster Farms jointly liable for these violations.
some 40ish years ago, Foster Farms had a few fast food type restaurants in the central valley. They were pretty good. I liked them better than other name brand places….
Don’t think they are a thing anymore……
@S….Back in the 80s I used to deliver and pick-up product at Foster Farms. The dock manager used to have vouchers for a meal at the restaurant near the plant in Livingston and would give the local truck drivers one if you asked. A lot of companies did stuff like that as “good will” gestures, those days are long gone.The restaurants were new, clean and always had fresh food.
With everyone working from home(most from their beds), sick leacve was not
a big issue. State of California needs to fine itself!
@Aunt Barbra Sorry that not everyone has the luxury to have a white collar job that lets them work from home, some people have real jobs. Blue collar jobs. Friendly reminder that labor rights are human rights!
When more companies quit demafornia politicians will be, as usual, completely mystified.
After deep pocket fleecing by CoCo county and state a company will be quitting CA. After over 100 years in CA, 600 living wage jobs will be eliminated due in part to liberal politicians and unelected bureaucrats using their office to ‘fine’ companies with deep pockets.
Keep in mind for each one of those living wage jobs lost another 6 to 10 other workers will be effected because of loss of business to companies providing goods and services to plant closing.
My job never notified us, never sent out a memo or said a word.
Am I entitled to lucre?
Employers have historically underpaid workers because they own nothing.