Orange County academic services provider to pay $439K in back wages owed to 58 employees after federal investigation

Employer: Joined, Inc., an academic recruitment, technology and curriculum services provider

Sites: 2010 Main St., Suite 550 Irvine, California

Investigation findings: Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that Joined, Inc. missed paying wages to staff in several pay periods. The company blamed clients who failed to pay for services rendered and a slowdown in company business.

Resolution:     The employer will pay 58 employees $439,000 in back wages.

Quote: “Poor financial management by Joined, Inc. or any company should never translate into missed paychecks for workers,” said Rodolfo Cortez, director of the Wage and Hour Division Office in San Diego. “With this settlement, dozens of hardworking people can now catch up on bills and other living expenses.”

Information: For more information about federal wage laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division, call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information also is available at http://www.dol.gov/whd/.