Foster Farms Cited $3.7M for Paid Pandemic Sick Leave Violations

The California Labor Commissioner has cited Foster Farms and its staffing agencies $3,783,800 for failing to notify nearly 3,500 temp workers of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave benefits (SPSL).

Employers of more than 25 must provide written notice to all full-time employees, such as the Labor Commissioner’s model notice in English and Spanish, of their rights to receive pandemic-related SPSL. See, Find Out What’s New in 2022 Paid COVID Sick-Leave Expanded: California’s New Variant: Up to 80 Hours Paid Time Away (February 25, 2022).

In an April 26, 2022 release, the Labor Commissioner stated: “Employers who contract with staffing agencies have a joint responsibility to protect the health of their workers. Employers are obligated to ensure that employees are made aware of sick leave benefits intended to protect workers, their families and the public from the spread of COVID-19.”

For further information, please contact Tim Bowles, Cindy Bamforth or Helena Kobrin.

See also:

• Cautionary Tale Episode 51 Former Workers Get First Shot-3.3 Million Reasons to Hire Back Pre-Pandemic Hospitality Employees (March 11, 2022)
• Cautionary Tale Episode 47 Covid-19 Required Benefits Take Two: El Super Grocery Store Citations Tripled (October 29,2021)
• Cautionary Tale Episode 40 Big Stick Compliance Cal/Osha Fines Numerous Businesses for Covid-19 Violations (March 4, 2021)

Helena Kobrin
May 5, 2022