Pizza Hut employees in Los Angeles went on strike to protest wage theft and abusive scheduling practices. A series by CalMatters in 2022 highlighted long waits and low payouts for workers who claimed their employers shorted them on wages. In response, California lawmakers have proposed bills to address the issue, including Senate Bill 310 by San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener. This bill aims to allow workers to recoup more money through private lawsuits instead of filing claims through the heavily delayed system at the Labor Commissioner’s Office.
The office, which has been understaffed, took an average of 505 days between 2017 and 2021 to decide on wage theft claims, much longer than the 135 days required by state law. The wait time has since increased to more than 850 days. Erik Mebust, a spokesperson for Wiener, highlighted the need for reform after advocates brought attention to the issue, citing CalMatters’ reporting.
Another bill, proposed by Fremont Democratic Sen. Aisha Wahab, aims to compel employers to pay up faster after workers win their claims. SB 261 would require the Labor Commissioner’s Office to publicly post decisions against employers who have not paid claims and seek fines against those who do not pay within six months. The proposals may face pushback from business groups, as they seek to shift enforcement to private attorneys. Despite the challenges, these bills aim to address the issue of wage theft in California and ensure that workers receive fair compensation.
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