SAN FRANCISCO — A mass action lawsuit under California's Private Attorney Generals Act accuses occupational training and employment agency Arriba Juntos of violating California labor laws.
Kidd claims the defendant controlled or affected the working conditions, wages, working hours, and conditions of employment for her and others. She claims that during her short employment with the defendant, she was an hourly, paid and non-exempt employee.
The defendants knew or should have known that the plaintiff and other class members should have received at least their minimum wages for all hours worked, according to the suit.
Kidd claims she and class members were all underpaid for their time worked.
"During the relevant time period, Defendants failed to pay overtime wages to Plaintiff and the other class members for all overtime hours worked," the complaint states. "Plaintiff and the other class members were required to work more than eight hours per day and/or 40 hours per week without overtime compensation for all overtime hours worked."
Kidd claims the defendant failed to provide all requisite uninterrupted meal and rest periods to the plaintiff and the other class members.
Kidd is seeking civil penalties, restitution for unpaid wages and damages for herself and all other workers at the agency. The lawsuit is being prosecuted under the California PAGA law, which empowers one worker to sue employers for allegedly violating California state labor laws, in place of California state officials.
Attorneys who bring the lawsuits often collect 33% of all funds paid by employers hit with such lawsuits. Business advocates, such as the California Chamber of Commerce, note that this payout for attorneys is a primary factor leading to lower payouts to workers, compared to what they could receive if their cases were prosecuted through the state's labor law enforcement agency.
Kidd is represented in the case by attorney Arby Aiwazlan, of Lawyers for Justice PC, of Glendale.
San Francisco County Superior Court case number: CGC-23-609456