Wage and hour cases in Santa Cruz at a glance
Employers in Santa Cruz account for 32 concluded Wage and Hour Division investigations since 2004, 24 of which found violations (75%). Employers agreed to pay $262,900 in back wages to 237 workers, and $14,586 in civil money penalties was assessed. In the last 12 months 0 cases closed with $0 in back wages. The industries with the most back wages here are Health Care and Social Assistance ($140,238), Accommodation and Food Services ($68,395), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting ($34,650).
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32 cases.
| Employer | Case closed | Findings | Back wages | Workers paid | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, Santa Cruz The Regents of the University of California | Jul 2, 2025 | 2 violations | $1,400 | 1 | 0 |
| Sushi Totoro Varpero Premium Foods, LLC | Mar 1, 2025 | 1 violation | $5,086 | 1 | 0 |
| Pono Hawaiian Grill, LLC | Oct 27, 2024 | 73 violations | $50,973 | 72 | 0 |
| 88 Enterprise | Oct 11, 2023 | 2 violations repeat | $10,688 | 1 | $686 |
| Driftwood Healthcare Center- Santa Cruz | Jun 8, 2023 | 4 violations | $22,282 | 3 | 0 |
| Bloom Network SC Bloom Network, Inc. | Jan 13, 2021 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| The Buttery TB J&M Corporation | Dec 31, 2020 | 12 violations | $3,154 | 11 | 0 |
| Santa Cruz Metro Transit District Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District | Dec 31, 2020 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| The Buttery TB & JM Corporation | Nov 16, 2020 | 2 violations | $1,845 | 2 | 0 |
| Sawasdee By The Sea | Oct 3, 2020 | 32 violations | $3,258 | 5 | 0 |
| Santa Cruz Metro Transit District | Aug 5, 2020 | 2 violations | $3,488 | 1 | 0 |
| Conley General Engineering Inc. | Dec 29, 2019 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ramsey Lath Plaster, Inc. | Aug 6, 2019 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Valero 88 Enterprises, Inc. | Jun 17, 2019 | 5 violations | $822 | 4 | 0 |
| Valero 88 Enterprises, Inc. | Jun 17, 2019 | 4 violations | $818 | 3 | 0 |
| Santa Cruz Nutritionals | Mar 31, 2016 | 1 violation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Capitola Manor Flying Proa Enterprises, Inc. | Mar 9, 2016 | 47 violations repeat | $50,000 | 45 | 0 |
| Garden Liquors & Deli Santa Cruz Garden Liquor & Deli Inc | Dec 5, 2014 | 2 violations | $4,079 | 1 | 0 |
| Dominican Hospital | Dec 12, 2012 | 30 violations | $59,212 | 29 | 0 |
| Stealth Network Communications | Oct 4, 2012 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Toadal Fitness (Live Oak) | Jul 16, 2012 | 2 violations | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jorge Castro Farms | Oct 21, 2011 | 45 violations | $34,650 | 25 | $13,900 |
| 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall | Apr 5, 2011 | 6 violations | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Santana Paving and Grading, Inc. | Dec 31, 2009 | 4 violations | $465 | 3 | 0 |
| Santana Paving and Grading, Inc. | Nov 30, 2009 | 3 violations | $1,000 | 2 | 0 |
| Santana Paving and Grading, Inc. | Nov 30, 2009 | 1 violation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chanticleer Home | Aug 31, 2009 | 25 violations | $8,744 | 24 | 0 |
| Sunset Farms, Inc. | Sep 30, 2008 | 4 violations | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| City of Santa Cruz | Oct 23, 2007 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DCD Financial & Insurance Services | Jun 30, 2005 | 5 violations | $936 | 4 | 0 |
| Dave's Gourmet Albacore | Oct 16, 2004 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Moriarty's Roofing | not stated | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Largest back-wage records in Santa Cruz
| Employer | Cases | Back wages | Workers paid | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital | 1 | $59,212 | 29 | Dec 12, 2012 |
| Pono Hawaiian Grill, LLC | 1 | $50,973 | 72 | Oct 27, 2024 |
| Capitola Manor | 1 | $50,000 | 45 | Mar 9, 2016 |
| Jorge Castro Farms | 1 | $34,650 | 25 | Oct 21, 2011 |
| Driftwood Healthcare Center- Santa Cruz | 1 | $22,282 | 3 | Jun 8, 2023 |
| 88 Enterprise | 1 | $10,688 | 1 | Oct 11, 2023 |
| Chanticleer Home | 1 | $8,744 | 24 | Aug 31, 2009 |
| Sushi Totoro | 1 | $5,086 | 1 | Mar 1, 2025 |
| The Buttery | 2 | $4,999 | 13 | Dec 31, 2020 |
| Garden Liquors & Deli | 1 | $4,079 | 1 | Dec 5, 2014 |
| Santa Cruz Metro Transit District | 2 | $3,488 | 1 | Dec 31, 2020 |
| Sawasdee By The Sea | 1 | $3,258 | 5 | Oct 3, 2020 |
| Valero | 2 | $1,640 | 7 | Jun 17, 2019 |
| Santana Paving and Grading, Inc. | 3 | $1,465 | 5 | Dec 31, 2009 |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | 1 | $1,400 | 1 | Jul 2, 2025 |
| DCD Financial & Insurance Services | 1 | $936 | 4 | Jun 30, 2005 |
| Stealth Network Communications | 1 | $0 | 0 | Oct 4, 2012 |
| 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall | 1 | $0 | 0 | Apr 5, 2011 |
| Sunset Farms, Inc. | 1 | $0 | 0 | Sep 30, 2008 |
| Toadal Fitness (Live Oak) | 1 | $0 | 0 | Jul 16, 2012 |
By year closed
| Year | Cases | With violations | Back wages | Workers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | $6,486 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | $50,973 | 72 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | $32,970 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | $0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 4 | $11,745 | 19 |
| 2019 | 4 | 2 | $1,640 | 7 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 | $50,000 | 45 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | $4,079 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 | 2 | $59,212 | 29 |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 | $34,650 | 25 |
| 2009 | 4 | 4 | $10,209 | 29 |
| 2008 | 1 | 1 | $0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | $0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 | $936 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | $0 | 0 |
Your rights in Santa Cruz
The federal file stops at $7.25 and weekly overtime. California workers in Santa Cruz are owed the state minimum wage of $16.90 in 2026 or the higher local rate, overtime after 8 hours in a day, an hour of pay for each missed meal or rest period, and up to 30 days of wages when final pay is late. Claims go to the Labor Commissioner or to Superior Court, three years back, four under the Unfair Competition Law. Free, confidential review: (800) 371-3088.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division enforcement database, California cases through Sep 6, 2026. County is assigned from the city on the case. Back to the wage theft tracker.
About this data: Cases come from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division enforcement database (WHD compliance actions concluded since fiscal year 2005, California employers only), published by the Department of Labor and reloaded here every month. "Back wages" are amounts the employer agreed to pay at the close of the investigation; "penalties" are civil money penalties assessed. An investigation that found no violation is listed as such. The database does not include California Labor Commissioner cases or private lawsuits. This page is general information, not legal advice about your situation.