Gabriel Maldonado contacted the Center for Workers’ Rights in June of 2020. He reached out to us because for four years prior he had worked for a local construction company and had expressed concern about unpaid wages, a lack of reimbursement for materials purchased for the company, and missing overtime pay. After having an intake with one of our student volunteers during our weekly Workers’ Rights Clinic, Gabriel was referred to our Wage Claim Clinic. It quickly became apparent that Gabriel’s employers were committing several labor violations, so CWR decided to aid him in the claim process with the Labor Commissioner’s Office.
Gabriel was promised a daily pay rate, which can only cover regular hours worked. However, he often had to work overtime to secure the closing of multiple job sites, without appropriate compensation. Gabriel also received paychecks on an irregular basis, and sometimes not at all. Over the next several months, Gabriel provided the attorneys at CWR with documentation that he had kept while working for his employer, laying out the hours he worked, the pay he received, and times he went without compensation. Because of his due diligence, and our attorneys’ knowledge of the claim process, we are happy to share that Gabriel was able to secure a substantial settlement.
It is not uncommon in fields such as construction for workers to often get shorted wages that they are legally owed. The Center for Workers’ Rights is available for workers who need help in defending their legal rights. Through our Workers’ Rights and Wage Claim Clinics, we are able to identify the violations that occur and guide workers through the process to obtain a just outcome. Gabriel is just one of many workers who we have been able to help through the lengthy wage claim process. If you, or anyone you know is having similar issues at work please call us at 916-905-5857 or email us at hotline@rightscenter.org. Language services are available.