Workin' at the Car Wash Blues

Los Angeles, CA Anyone who recalls the goofy movie called Car Wash that came out in the 1970's will remember the funky, laid-back sense of fun that employees of the cinematic car wash were having. But of course, with anything Hollywood, more often than not what you see on screen is far from reality. And if California labor law is any indication, the state wants to keep the playing field real and fair for car wash employees.

The car wash industry in California appears to chronically violate California labor code. To that end, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) announced violations against the statutes of California labor employment law on the part of three car wash operators in the state.

The DIR is a division of Labor Enforcement Standards, an entity that operates within the jurisdiction of the Labor Commissioner's Office. To that end, California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su is on a quest to ensure every single employee in California is paid fairly, with proper meal breaks and rest periods.

In two recent cases, breaches have been found. Su and her department have been busy filing the odd California labor lawsuit as a result.

According to US State News (3/6/12), two separate lawsuits were brought in Los Angeles Superior Court against three car wash operations. The three were identified as Rosecrans King Car Wash, Wilshire Car Wash and Vermont Auto Spa. The DIR conducted investigations and found evidence of unpaid wages, as well as other violations.

Rosecrans King Car Wash was found to have systematically failed to pay workers all wages earned for all hours worked beginning in January 2009??"a violation of California prevailing wage law. The California labor lawsuit in that case seeks lost wages, as well as damages and other costs to the tune of $1,698,732, according to the report in US State News.

A subsequent complaint is filed against two other car wash operations. V5 Car Wash LLC, doing business as Vermont Auto Spa, succeeded the Wilshire Car Wash run by B.B.L Investment Corporation at the same California location. That lawsuit seeks $348,732 in minimum wages, overtime, and penalties for meal and rest period violations according to California employee labor law.

"Wage theft is a serious problem that harms workers and employers who follow the laws as well as the state economy," said DIR Director Christine Baker.

Labor Commissioner Su echoed those comments.

"Our investigations found that employers knowingly and willfully failed to properly record accurate time records for each worker and failed to provide them with itemized wage deduction statements with their pay," added Su. "By not providing an itemized statement, workers had no way to verify if the pay they received covered all hours worked. This routine practice by the employers is nothing less than an act of wage theft."

Despite what you see in the movies, many employees find themselves having a case of working at the car wash blues. Su and her various departments are bent on upholding California state labor laws, for the benefit of employees, and holding employers accountable.