Workplace Justice Fund
Across California, workers who win wage theft cases often still face an uphill battle to recover what they are owed. A 2022 CalMatters investigation found that only one in seven workers with wage theft judgments were paid in full within five years.
The Workplace Justice Fund, launched in 2023, was created to help bridge this gap. The fund provides direct financial support to eligible workers while OLSE continues its long‑term efforts to collect full restitution from employers. Today, 55 workers are part of the program.
A recent collection of $141,237 demonstrates the impact of this post‑judgment recovery program, which helps workers collect wages they have been awarded but have been unable to recover. Years after the original judgment was entered against a business that had ceased its operations, OLSE and San Diego County Counsel (County Counsel) successfully established that a successor company was legally responsible for the judgment. By adding the successor company as a judgment debtor, the County was able to recover outstanding wages and penalties that otherwise would have gone unpaid. The court’s ruling reaffirmed that employers cannot avoid liability for wage judgments simply by restructuring or renaming their business operations.
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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