Four East Bay Assisted Living Homes Cited $3M For Worker Violations

Four East Bay assisted living facilities were issued more than $3 million in citations for violations related to minimum wage, overtime and rest periods for their workers, state labor officials announced Thursday.

Florian White Dove Care in Brentwood received more than $1 million in citations, Abraham Rest Home Inc. in Walnut Creek was cited more than $996,000, Sanchez-Abraham Corporation of Concord was cited more than $716,000 and Common Destiny Care Homes in Fremont was cited more than $358,000, according to the state Department of Industrial Relations.

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The citations were handed down on Oct. 24 and come after the owners of some of the businesses were arrested in September on wage theft, tax and insurance violation charges. Sara Abraham, Annette Sanchez and Julio Sanchez, of Abraham Rest Homes Inc. and Sanchez-Abraham Corporation, and Florinda Yambao of Floran White Dove Care Homes were arrested on Sept. 16 at their businesses, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors allege the care home owners’ employees were continuously underpaid, sometimes working for 12 to 18 hours per day for $50 to $80 in wages.

The state Department of Industrial Relations alleges that Common Destiny Care Homes required its 24 caregivers to work up to 17 hours per day without being paid minimum wage or overtime.

In some cases, workers were given a sofa bed in a garage as sleeping quarters and were required to work unpaid during designated sleeping hours if residents required care, state labor official said.

“Working conditions like these will not be tolerated in the state of California,” Labor Commissioner Julie Su said in a statement. “Workers’ well-being is closely tied to the well-being of those they serve. We encourage all workers to come forward to report violations of labor laws.”

--Bay City News