Employer record, U.S. Labor Department investigations

Taco Bell Wage and Hour Cases in California

Benjamin Eghbali, Esq.Legal notes by Benjamin Eghbali, Esq.

Taco Bell: 33 investigations, $74,974 in back wages for 271 workers, latest closed Mar 17, 2026.

Every federal wage and hour case closed in California since 2004 and a handful before: 30,596 investigations, 23,910 employers, $472,441,289 in back wages for 335,130 workers.

Taco Bell wage and hour record at a glance

Taco Bell appears in 33 concluded Wage and Hour Division investigations in California, closed between Nov 2, 2004 and Mar 17, 2026. 18 of them found violations, 291 in all, and the employer agreed to pay $74,974 in back wages to 271 workers, plus $9,011 in civil money penalties. Of the back wages, $66,574 was unpaid overtime and $0 unpaid minimum wage under the federal standard. The largest single case closed Apr 19, 2016 in Irvine with $27,402 for 148 workers. 8 minors were involved in child labor findings. That places the employer at #1,241 of 23,910 California employers in the database by back wages.

Industry as coded by the Division: Full-Service Restaurants. Laws involved: FMLA, child labor, FLSA.

Every case, newest first

Case closedPeriod investigatedCityFindingsBack wagesWorkers paidPenaltiesLaws
Mar 17, 2026Mar 2024 to Mar 2026Irvine2 violations$8,40010FMLA
Aug 27, 2023Jan 2023 to Aug 2023El Cajon1 violation000
Mar 16, 2023Mar 2021 to Mar 2023Concordno violations found000
Jan 19, 2023Jan 2021 to Jan 2023Moorparkno violations found000
Apr 22, 2022Apr 2020 to Apr 2022Santa Rosano violations found000
Mar 16, 2021Mar 2019 to Mar 2021Huntington Beach5 violations00$4,117child labor
Dec 18, 2018Dec 2016 to Dec 2018Kingsburgno violations found000
Dec 13, 2017Dec 2015 to Dec 2017Antelope2 violations00$2,419child labor
Dec 11, 2017Dec 2015 to Dec 2017Lodi1 violation000FLSA
Nov 30, 2017Nov 2015 to Nov 2017San Fernandono violations found000
Nov 29, 2017Nov 2015 to Nov 2017Folsomno violations found000
Apr 19, 2016Apr 2014 to Apr 2016Irvine148 violations$27,4021480FLSA
Mar 29, 2016Apr 2014 to Mar 2016Tustinno violations found000
Mar 15, 2016Mar 2014 to Mar 2016El Centro1 violation$3110FLSA
Mar 7, 2016Mar 2016 to Mar 2016Stantonno violations found000
Feb 11, 2016Feb 2014 to Feb 2016Anaheim1 violation000FMLA
Jan 21, 2016Jan 2014 to Jan 2016Orange2 violations$2,57410FLSA
Jan 18, 2016Jan 2014 to Jan 2016Anaheim1 violation000FLSA
Dec 22, 2015Dec 2013 to Dec 2015Huntington Beach83 violations$25,268830FLSA
Dec 22, 2015Dec 2013 to Dec 2015Anaheim1 violation$7710FLSA
Dec 15, 2015Dec 2013 to Dec 2015Los Angeles34 violations$10,616330FLSA
Dec 15, 2015Dec 2013 to Dec 2015Simi Valley3 violations$56620FLSA
Dec 15, 2015Dec 2013 to Dec 2015Simi Valley1 violation000FLSA
Aug 18, 2015Aug 2013 to Aug 2015El Cajonno violations found000
Aug 18, 2015Aug 2013 to Aug 2015Lemon Groveno violations found000
Jul 31, 2008Aug 2006 to Jul 2008Bakersfieldno violations found000
Mar 8, 2008Mar 2006 to Mar 2008Clovisno violations found000
Apr 14, 2007Apr 2005 to Apr 2007Redlands3 violations00$1,485FLSA, child labor
Apr 4, 2007Apr 2005 to Apr 2007Long Beachno violations found000
Mar 19, 2006Mar 2004 to Mar 2006San Joseno violations found000
Mar 14, 2006Mar 2004 to Mar 2006Long Beachno violations found000
Mar 15, 2005Mar 2003 to Mar 2005Rocklin1 violation$4010FLSA
Nov 2, 2004Nov 2002 to Nov 2004Torrance1 violation00$990child labor

Also filed as: Siegel Food Service; Keith Sherman Enterprises, Inc.; Cotti FoodsCorporation; Tabellco, Inc; Taco Jim Inc., dba; Yum Brands, Inc.; St Mar Enterprises; C&R Restaurant Group, L.P.; Sonar, Inc.; Century Fast Foods, Inc.; Sonar, Inc; Cotti Foods Corporation.

Local pages: Irvine employment lawyer, El Cajon employment lawyer, Concord employment lawyer.

How to read this record

Each row is one federal investigation. Period investigated is the span of payroll the Division reviewed, usually two years back from the complaint. Back wages is what the employer agreed to pay for that period at the federal rate; penalties went to the government, not to workers.

Back wages computed under the federal law are usually a fraction of the California number for the same hours: the state minimum is $16.90 in 2026, overtime starts after 8 hours in a day, and each missed meal or rest period adds an hour of pay. Workers paid in these cases may still be owed that difference, and the federal release form covers only the federal claim.

Full explainer: what a Labor Department case is, and what it is not.

If you work, or worked, at Taco Bell

Pull together your pay stubs and your own record of hours for the last three years, request your pay records in writing (the employer has 21 days under Labor Code 226), and keep any WH-58 receipt from a Labor Department payment. A free review tells you in one call whether the California numbers exceed what was paid, whether break premiums and waiting time penalties apply, and whether anything that happened after you complained counts as retaliation. Call (800) 371-3088 or send your stubs.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division enforcement database, California cases. Record last checked Oct 30, 2026. 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.

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