Wage and hour cases in Merced County at a glance
Employers in Merced County account for 105 concluded Wage and Hour Division investigations since 2004, 89 of which found violations (85%). Employers agreed to pay $493,890 in back wages to 1,120 workers, and $288,021 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 Construction ($160,016), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting ($117,344), Health Care and Social Assistance ($90,806).
All cases, newest first
105 cases, page 2 of 2.
| Employer | City | Case closed | Findings | Back wages | Workers paid | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maloney's Bar and Grill | Merced | Sep 15, 2006 | 1 violation | $2,100 | 1 | 0 |
| Kings View Work Experience Center | Atwater | Mar 30, 2006 | 3 violations | $65 | 3 | 0 |
| Buy-N-Save Market | Los Banos | Feb 20, 2005 | 4 violations | $13,452 | 3 | 0 |
| Barocio, Felipe FLC | Atwater | Apr 17, 2004 | 31 violations | $4,471 | 23 | 0 |
| Polished Reflections | Atwater | Jan 21, 2004 | 60 violations | $33,144 | 54 | 0 |
Largest back-wage records in Merced County
| Employer | Cases | Back wages | Workers paid | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas C Williams Inc | 1 | $160,016 | 36 | May 31, 2009 |
| Next Crop | 1 | $36,765 | 96 | May 18, 2022 |
| Polished Reflections | 1 | $33,144 | 54 | Jan 21, 2004 |
| New Horizon's Residential | 2 | $32,323 | 2 | May 11, 2015 |
| Market Demand Corp | 1 | $30,224 | 63 | Jul 5, 2025 |
| Terrie's TLC Senior Care | 3 | $18,708 | 31 | Nov 8, 2016 |
| Joyee's Recycling | 1 | $17,345 | 3 | Dec 6, 2016 |
| AgPrime Corp. | 3 | $17,166 | 117 | May 24, 2013 |
| Merced County | 1 | $15,131 | 16 | Dec 25, 2009 |
| NextCrop, Inc. | 3 | $13,748 | 196 | Jun 23, 2017 |
| C and D's Guest Homes | 6 | $13,552 | 9 | Nov 5, 2012 |
| Buy-N-Save Market | 1 | $13,452 | 3 | Feb 20, 2005 |
| First Impression dba Affordable Markers | 1 | $11,964 | 4 | Dec 29, 2012 |
| C and D's Guest Home | 6 | $11,260 | 29 | May 11, 2015 |
| Kings View Work Experience Center | 4 | $7,903 | 24 | Oct 9, 2021 |
| CJ's Residential | 1 | $6,286 | 1 | Nov 5, 2012 |
| Reyes, Jessica (FLC) | 1 | $5,832 | 137 | May 9, 2014 |
| Pacific Cabinets | 1 | $5,364 | 26 | Mar 20, 2008 |
| Livingston Medical Group | 1 | $5,087 | 3 | Jan 28, 2009 |
| Barocio, Felipe FLC | 1 | $4,471 | 23 | Apr 17, 2004 |
By year closed
| Year | Cases | With violations | Back wages | Workers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | $30,224 | 63 |
| 2024 | 5 | 5 | $1,758 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | $36,765 | 96 |
| 2021 | 4 | 3 | $832 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | $2,362 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 | 4 | $3,424 | 7 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | $0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 | $8,140 | 103 |
| 2016 | 5 | 4 | $36,053 | 34 |
| 2015 | 11 | 11 | $47,661 | 60 |
| 2014 | 7 | 4 | $7,176 | 140 |
| 2013 | 9 | 6 | $22,102 | 242 |
| 2012 | 14 | 12 | $33,190 | 24 |
| 2011 | 10 | 10 | $22,434 | 140 |
| 2010 | 4 | 1 | $1,987 | 23 |
| 2009 | 3 | 3 | $180,234 | 55 |
| 2008 | 8 | 6 | $6,316 | 39 |
| 2007 | 4 | 3 | $0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 2 | $2,165 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 | $13,452 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 | 2 | $37,615 | 77 |
Cities in Merced County with cases
- Atwater29 cases, $251,821
- Los Banos21 cases, $126,710
- Merced42 cases, $108,909
- Livingston10 cases, $6,450
- Ballico3 cases, $0
Your rights in Merced County
The federal file stops at $7.25 and weekly overtime. California workers in Merced County 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. Our Merced County employment law page covers the local offices and deadlines. 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.