At the Car Wash (Whoa, Whoa): Workers to Receive Back Wages From "unscrupulous employers"

Eight car washes in the state are paying a combined settlement of over $1 million to employees who were underpaid and treated unfairly in the past. The settlement comes as a result of a civil lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, who targeted car wash owners who did not pay their workers appropriate wages, and who denied them rest and meal breaks, as well as created false records of time worked.

In a release issued by her office today, Harris remarked: "Workers at these car washes were taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers who illegally denied them the pay and benefits they earned. I am pleased that the resolution of this case will allow workers to receive the pay they are owed."

Five of the eight car washes are located in Southern California, and are in Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Santa Monica, and Venice.

Among allegations raised in the suit, evidence showed the car washes required employees show up early and work without pay, paid workers with checks that were written against insufficient funds, and did not properly pay employees who quit or were terminated.

Along with more than $1 million in restitution of unpaid wages and civil penalties, the car washes are required to pay $50,000 in employment taxes.

Previously: Catch Up: The State of Illegal Car Washes