Workplace Justice Fund
Across California, many workers who win wage theft cases still struggle to actually recover their unpaid wages. A statewide audit found that only one in seven workers with wage theft judgments received full payment within five years.
San Diego County created the Workplace Justice Fund to close that gap. The fund supports workers who already won their wage claim but haven’t been able to collect what they’re owed. Eligible workers can receive up to $3,000, or up to $4,000 in retaliation cases, while the County works to recover the full judgment amount from the employer.
Once approved, workers assign their judgment to the County. The County issues the payment and then begins collection. Much of this work happens outside formal court hearings. This behind‑the‑scenes work is often lengthy—especially when businesses have closed or debtors are difficult to locate.
As of July 2026 the County has recovered $220,456.80 in unpaid wages and penalties through this Workplace Justice Fund post‑judgment recovery work.
Workplace Justice Fund Participant Testimonial
I’m grateful that San Diego County has created a mechanism to help ensure that lawful judgments are meaningful and enforceable. My hope is that programs like this encourage fairness, mutual respect, and professionalism on all sides of the employment relationship. – Steve Workplace Justice Fund Participant
To learn more about the Workplace Justice Fund, please read the FAQ below.
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