DLSE Participates in Joint Enforcement Sweeps in Santa Clara County.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), in cooperation with the Employment Development Department (EDD), and the Department of Insurance (DOI) today concluded a two day enforcement sweep of construction sites in Santa Clara County. The enforcement sweep, an unannounced inspection to check for employer compliance with state workplace rules, was conducted following a request by the Santa Clara County District Attorneys' Office (SCDA). The sweep followed a sting operation by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and SCDA creating a two pronged enforcement approach focused on unlicensed contractors and workers' compensation violations.

"In California all workers have rights and it is our goal to protect them," said State Labor Commissioner Donna Dell. "Also, responsible employers deserve vigorous enforcement to level the playing field. Using a multi-agency approach to an enforcement sweep leverages government resources and encourages unscrupulous employers -- who gain an unfair economic advantage by not following the rules -- to come into compliance."

During the sweep, three teams of investigators from the partner agencies swept through a geographic area in Santa Clara County with active construction sites looking for labor law violations.

The findings included:

--7 violations of workers' compensation requirements -- $35,000 in penalties issued by DLSE

--2 violations for not providing deduction statement with the wages -- $9,750 in penalties issued by DLSE

--7 companies with payroll records that will be reviewed by DLSE to ensure compliance

--11 notices to discontinue violations issued by DLSE

--18 companies whose files will be reviewed for compliance by EDD

--4 criminal complaints for no workers' compensation coverage to be filed with SCDA by DOI

--1 criminal complaints against an unlicensed contractor to be filed with SCDA by DOI

In addition, CSLB and the SCDA cited approximately 53 unlicensed contractors with criminal citations.

"Our enforcement efforts are also an opportunity to educate employers and employees on their rights and responsibilities under the law," added Dell. "Employers are required by law to maintain a workers' compensation policy to protect employees who may be injured on the job."

In California, regulations governing wages, hours and working conditions are laid out in the Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders, which must be available at the worksite where employees can read them. Employers can access the Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders or other workplace postings on line at www.dir.ca.gov, click on workplace postings in the left navigation bar.