SANTA ANA— Following an investigation by the Department of Industrial Relations, the Labor Commissioner’s Office cited Chino-based weight loss and fitness chain the Camp Bootcamp, Inc., doing business as the Camp Transformation Center, more than $8.3 million for multiple wage theft and labor law violations.
Unpaid wages and damages are owed to 551 workers who worked in 15 locations throughout Southern California, including trainers, trainer assistants, facility managers and receptionists.
“State investigators are working hard to defend the rights of workers and go after those employers who are stealing wages from their employees,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “It’s imperative that we help working individuals who are not being paid as they work hard for a living and are supporting themselves and in many cases, families.”
The Labor Commissioner launched an investigation last May after receiving a complaint. The investigation found that from August 2014 to August 2017, trainers and assistants at all locations were only paid for each class taught when they should have been paid per hour. They were shorted on wages due for travel between the class sites, as well as prep and clean up before and after each class.
“Employees must be paid for all hours worked, including travel between worksites,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “Employers should not expect to pass the cost of doing business to their workers – this is wage theft.”
Investigators found that trainers were required to teach classes in different locations, which resulted in driving time of more than an hour between worksites in some cases. The Camp Bootcamp issued separate paychecks to trainers or assistants who worked at multiple locations, with workers receiving up to six paychecks for a single pay period. As a result, the employer did not pay the workers overtime. Managers and other employees were not paid for mandatory staff meetings, and receptionists were not provided required rest or meal breaks.
The Camp Bootcamp was ordered to pay:
- $1,188,536 in unpaid minimum wages,
- $421,979 for unpaid overtime,
- $5,882 for unpaid split shift premium pay,
- $1,388,847 in liquidated damages,
- $392,106 for meal and rest period violations,
- $522,166 for waiting time penalties and
- $190,600 for failure to provide itemized wage statements,
totaling $4,110,116 payable to the workers.
The citations also include $1,250,200 in civil penalties. The Camp Bootcamp was further ordered to pay the workers $2.95 million in contract wages owed.
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or the Labor Commissioner’s Office, is the division within the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) with wide-ranging enforcement responsibilities including inspecting workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicating wage claims, investigating retaliation complaints and educating the public on labor laws.
Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734)
