Luxury California Resort Hit With Wage and Hour Lawsuit

California resort Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdas is being accused in a wage and hour lawsuit of forcing workers to clock in for inaccurate times and take long shuttle rides from a remote parking lot to the resort at their own expense.

According to the wage and hour lawsuit, the luxurious resort has been violating minimum wage and overtime laws. Workers allege that resort management forces them to shorten breaks as well as clock in and out incorrectly to short their wages.

Terranea resort includes eight restaurants, a spa, and golf course. According to the wage and hour lawsuit, the company cheats its 600 staff members out of wages using a variety of methods. For example, the lawsuit alleges that employees were required to park at off-site lots during the busy season and take shuttles into work, but were not compensated for their extra time. On top of having to arrive 30 minutes early for the shuttle, employees had to schedule an additional 15 minutes to put on their uniform – all that time went unpaid, say the plaintiffs.

The workers say the resort forces them to take the shuttles and that workers will be written up if a security guard discovers that they parked on the streets surrounding the workplace. On top of long commutes from the LA area, workers say that getting to work takes a significant amount of time under these parking policies.

“I live in mid-City Los Angeles,” said a Terranea employee in a statement reported by the LA Weekly “It’s frustrating that, on top of the long commute, we have to come in early to take the company’s shuttles from the offsite lots and are not paid for this time.”

According to the lawsuit, the defendants have also “instructed Plaintiffs and their co-workers to fabricate their time records to make it appear as if they took a meal period they did not actually take.”

Terranea insists that it follows wage and hour laws, but this is not the first lawsuit to hit the resort. In 2011, the company agreed to settle a wage and hour lawsuit that alleged Terranea failed to pay overtime wages and violated minimum wage laws for $1.1 million.

Wage and Hour Lawsuits

Employees have a right to be paid for their time under federal and state law, including overtime and minimum wage laws.

Federal and state laws have been put in place to protect workers’ rights to fair wages and pay. However, it can be hard for employees to assert their rights for fear of retribution like cutting hours or losing their jobs. An experienced wage and hour attorney can help employees protect their legal right to compensation. A legal professional can help potential plaintiffs determine if filing a lawsuit is right for them. Successful plaintiffs may receive monetary awards to help compensate for unpaid overtime and wages.

If you think you have a wage and hour claim, the employment attorneys at Bradley/Grombacher may be able to help. Fill out the form on this page now for a FREE case evaluation.