Efforts to recover from an arson fire that destroyed four Palm Desert businesses are ongoing, with some employees expressing concern about their financial future.
One employee, Mary Saucedo, who worked at D’Coffee Bouteaque until the fire, is worried about her finances as she has not been paid for her last pay period and is unsure how she will meet her bills. Despite reaching out to the owner of the business for comment, News Channel 3 has not received a response.
Ira Mosley, owner of Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta, is also struggling financially due to the fire. He has been covering all costs out of pocket and hopes that the insurance company will eventually reimburse him. Mosley is concerned about his long-term employees and understands that finding work in the desert during the slower summer months can be challenging. He plans to reopen by October and has started a GoFundMe campaign to support his staff during this difficult time.
It is crucial to note that under federal labor laws, employers must pay their workers regular wages for hours worked before a disaster as well as any overtime at the appropriate rate. Additionally, California labor law mandates that employees must be paid at least twice each month on designated paydays.
For more information on this ongoing situation, tune in to News Channel 3 at 6:00 p.m.
