The California Labor Commissioner cited two companies for wage theft, says LA wage and hour attorney Eric Grover.

LOS ANGELES, CA, USA, May 24, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Two janitorial companies are facing fines totaling more than $1.75 million for intentionally misclassifying 52 workers as independent contractors. California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su filed the citations after the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund (MCTF) brought the case to the commissioner’s attention, reports Los Angeles wage and hour lawyer Eric Grover of Keller Grover LLP.

Nicole Pascariello, CEO of NLP Janitorial Inc., of Van Nuys and its managers Hugo Miranda and Luis A. Castro, along with Robert L. Winters, CEO of Coast to Coast West, Inc. of Lees Summit, Missouri were named in the citations. The companies were accused of employee misclassification, failing to provide meal or rest breaks, failing to pay minimum wage and overtime wages, as well as neglecting to provide itemized wage statements.

“It is important that those who hire contractors to perform work such as janitorial services be vigilant so that illicit contractors do not get the work in the first place,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su in a press release. “We want to prevent violations from occurring and create a culture of compliance throughout California, and this requires diligence and commitment from those who make the decisions about who they engage as contractors.”

NLP Janitorial employed nine workers, while Coast to Coast West employed the other 43 affected employees. Both companies provided janitorial services to companies like Pacific Palms Conference Resort and Hylands Inn by Carmel; area theater chains Regal, Regency, Edwards, Galaxy, Mann, and the LA Live complex; and Red Robin, Pei Wei and The Counter restaurants, the Department of Industrial Relations revealed.

The $1.75 million in citations included assessments to cover the employee’s owed minimum and overtime wages, as well as other premiums owed to their 52 employees for over a one-year period. These affected workers can expect $30,000 each in returned wages as a result of the judgments.

Winters, the CEO of Coast to Coast West, was assessed $1,783,266, while Pascarielleo, the CEO of NLP Janitorial, is required to pay $210,507.

“I cannot stress enough to workers that they should always verify the legality of their employment status. If your employer is classifying you as an independent contractor, please ensure that you are correctly being classified by reading up on employment laws surrounding employee classification or by speaking to a wage and hour lawyer,” says LA wage and hour attorney Eric Grover. “Many employers try to take advantage of unsuspecting workers by misclassifying them and stripping them of their basic employment rights, like meal or rest breaks. Don’t become a victim, take proactive steps to always ensure you’re being fairly treated by your employer.”

The wage and hour attorneys of California at the Los Angeles law firm of Keller Grover have been helping victims of wage theft recover lost wages since 2005. To learn more about wage laws and if you’ve been a victim, contact Keller Grover at 888.601.6939 or visit http://www.cawagehourlaw.com.

Eric Grover
Keller Grover LLP
888.601.6939
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