The California Labor Commissioner’s Office has issued a $9.4 million fine to the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina in downtown San Diego for allegedly not rehiring 15 people whose employment was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
State labor officials say California worker recall protections established during the pandemic require employers of hospitality and service workers to offer re-employment to workers laid off in connection with the pandemic. The law requires employees with seniority to be considered before employers look to outside hires or staffing agencies to fill their vacancies.
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office said Marriott Marquis did not offer available positions to 15 such employees after the hotel reopened in 2021, including some workers with 35 years of service.
Marriott did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the fine.
California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower said in a statement, “The law is clear. When jobs reopen, the workers who spent years — sometimes decades — building these companies must be given their rightful chance to return to work. Such blatant disregard for workers’ rights will not be tolerated.”