BUENA PARK, CA – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation recovered $158,096 in back wages and liquidated damages for employees of a global medical products manufacturer that failed to pay workers, putting many of them at risk of being unable to provide for their basic needs.
The department’s Wage and Hour Division found DRE Health Corp. – operating as DRE WorldMask USA Ltd. – violated the Fair Labor Standards Act when it wrongfully misclassified warehouse workers in Orange County as independent contractors and failed to pay them the wages and overtime pay they earned.
The investigation led to the recovery of $79,048 in back wages and an equal amount of $79,048 in liquidated damages for 91 workers. The division also assessed $4,936 in penalties against the employer.
“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to the protection of workers’ rights and works tirelessly to ensure workers are paid all of their hard-earned wages. DRE Health Corp. exploited vulnerable workers by misclassifying them and denying them vital protections such as required wages and overtime. This harmed the workers and their families,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Eric Murray in San Diego. “The Wage and Hour Division holds employers accountable when they violate the law to prevent them from taking advantage of workers and gaining an unfair competitive advantage by engaging in wage theft.”
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