California workers face years-long wait for unpaid wages

In a recent government meeting, officials addressed alarming delays in the processing of wage claims by the Labor Commissioner's office, revealing a significant backlog that has left thousands of workers waiting for justice. The discussion centered on an audit that highlighted the inefficiencies within the system, with workers experiencing an average wait time of 890 days for decisions on their claims—far exceeding the 135 days mandated by state law.

The audit, conducted over a six-year period, showed a dramatic increase in open wage claims, rising from 22,000 in 2017-18 to approximately 47,000 by 2022-23. Notably, nearly 33,000 of these claims have been pending for over three years, with some dating back as far as 2014. One particularly egregious case involved a worker who filed a claim for unpaid wages and overtime in 2014 but has yet to receive a hearing nearly a decade later.

The meeting also examined the causes of these delays, with staffing shortages identified as a critical issue. The Labor Commissioner's office has struggled to maintain adequate staffing levels, which has contributed to the backlog across all 17 field offices. For instance, San Bernardino saw a 515% increase in backlog claims, while both Oakland and Los Angeles experienced a 202% rise.

The audit revealed that delays were prevalent at every stage of the wage claim process, from the initial intake to the scheduling of hearings and the issuance of decisions. On average, it took 386 days to determine if a hearing was necessary and 636 days to hold that hearing. The findings underscore a systemic failure that has left many workers in limbo, waiting years for the wages they are owed.

As the meeting concluded, officials acknowledged the urgent need for reforms to address these issues and improve the efficiency of the Labor Commissioner's office, ensuring that workers receive timely resolutions to their claims.