Health care worker wins a case for retaliation

The California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) issued $40,460 in penalties for Ms. Jessica Delgado, care facility worker who was unlawfully suspended and terminated after reporting unsafe and unsanitary working conditions. Ms. Delgado told her supervisor at a San Jose mental health facility operated by Ali Baba Corporation that safety of patients was being compromised due to a cockroach infestation and dirty bathrooms. When Delgado said she would bring her concerns to the LCO, management retaliated with a swift suspension followed by a termination.

After filing a retaliation complaint with the LCO and reporting additional labor violations such as missed meal breaks, Delgado’s case moved forward quickly. The LCO finalized $40,000 in citations against the employer in November 2024 after Ali Baba Corp. The LCO subsequently enforced the judgment by issuing bank levies and successfully collected the full penalty amount plus interest. Delgado’s courage and knowledge of her rights were crucial in advancing the case.

California law safeguards employees who report unsafe or illegal workplace conditions as demonstrated by this case. California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower said, “This case progressed swiftly because Ms. Delgado knew her rights, took prompt action, and courageously spoke out against unlawful working conditions. Retaliation is a serious violation of the law, and we remain firmly committed to holding employers accountable and ensuring workers receive the wages and penalties they are rightly owed.” The worker, Jessica Delgado said, “This outcome shows that standing up for what’s right matters and that workers have protections under the law.”