In a recent crackdown on worker exploitation, Santa Clara County has filed a civil enforcement action against a Milpitas-based home care business, along with its owners, for alleged labor abuses. The County is accusing the home care provider of severe wage theft and operational violations, primarily affecting immigrant caregivers with limited English proficiency. The lawsuit, as reported by the County of Santa Clara, paints a grim picture of workers laboring for below minimum wage, sometimes as little as $4.17 to $10.42 per hour for 24-hour shifts.
According to County Counsel Tony LoPresti, while the company charged clients between $300 and $500 per day, a large portion of the revenue was pocketed rather than paid to the workers for their round-the-clock services. There were also underlying issues with a lack of breaks, overtime pay, and proper wage statements. One caregiver even reported identity theft, including the confiscation of her passport and unauthorized bank transactions. “These caregivers were entrusted with caring for our elders and most vulnerable residents yet were subjected to some of the most egregious forms of exploitation,” LoPresti said, per the County of Santa Clara.
The lawsuit outlines that the company operated without the required state license under the Home Care Consumer Protection Act, despite promoting itself as a licensed business. Past incidents with the defendants involved restraining orders issued by the Santa Clara County Public Guardian for elder abuse. Supervisor Betty Duong emphasized the severity of the implications, noting that both workers and seniors in their care were at risk due to these rogue business practices. “There must be financial and legal consequences for this kind of abuse. Bad actors will be held accountable,” Duong told the County of Santa Clara…