August 18, 2011

2 Jacksonville, Fla., restaurants and owners ordered to pay more than $934,000 to 30 workers following US Labor Department investigation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two La Nopalera restaurants in Jacksonville and their owners have been ordered to pay 30 employees $934,425 in back wages and liquidated damages under the terms of consent judgments. The agreements resolve a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit based on an investigation by its Wage and Hour Division that alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime pay and record-keeping provisions.

July 26, 2011

Kinder Morgan to pay more than $830,000 in overtime back wages to 4,659 employees, resolving US Labor Department lawsuit

Violations affected workers in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, North Dakota and Texas

July 7, 2011

Prince Georges County Public Schools agrees to pay $4.2 million in back wages for violations of H-1B temporary foreign worker program

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has obtained an agreement for Maryland's Prince George's County Public Schools system to pay $4,222,146 in back wages due 1,044 workers to resolve violations of the H-1B temporary foreign worker program. Investigators from the department found that PGCPS illegally reduced the wages of the H-1B workers by requiring them to pay fees that the school system was required to pay.

July 6, 2011

Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance to pay more than $1.5 million in back wages to nearly 3,500 employees following US Labor Department investigation

Systemic labor violations found throughout call centers in Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas

June 8, 2011

US Labor Department obtains orders requiring New Jersey farm, owners, crew leader to pay more than $28,000 in fines for child labor, migrant worker violations

HAMMONTON, N.J. — In two separate actions, administrative law judges have ordered Columbia Fruit Farms Inc., its owners Anthony DiMeo and William DiMeo, and crew leader Sorel Rinvil to pay $28,449 plus interest in civil money penalties to resolve violations found during investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division dating back to 2008.

June 8, 2011

US Labor Department sues Texas state agency for failing to pay 800 workers for overtime hours amounting to more than $1 million in back wages

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor today filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Child Protective Services Division in Austin for failing to pay 800 current and former investigators and case workers overtime compensation as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The suit seeks back wages of more than $1 million, plus liquidated damages.

May 26, 2011

Judge finds Decatur-Ill. Mexican restaurants liable for more than $1 million in back wages and damages after US Labor Department investigation

URBANA, Ill. — A federal judge in Urbana has ordered Dolores Onate, owner, and Ricardo Onate, manager, of the El Matador Inc. and El Caporal Inc. restaurants in Decatur to pay a total of $1,149,702.50 in back wages and damages to 64 workers employed as servers and kitchen staff. This judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S.

May 19, 2011

Judge orders payment of $347,000 in back wages and penalties, 3-year debarment of Global Horizons from H-2A agricultural program

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a judgment requiring Los Angeles-based Global Horizons Inc. and president Mordechai Orian to pay $153,000 in back wages to 88 temporary agricultural workers from Thailand employed in Hawaii, plus $194,000 in civil money penalties, for committing significant violations of the federal H-2A temporary nonimmigrant agricultural laborer program.

May 9, 2011

Keeping track of wages: The US Labor Department has an app for that!

New timesheet app to help ensure workers receive all wages earned

May 3, 2011

US Labor Department recovers nearly $2.9 million in back wages for more than 500 contract employees of Stanley Associates and subcontractors

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered nearly $2.9 million in back wages for more than 500 employees of Stanley Associates Inc. and several subcontractors at various locations in St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vt.

April 28, 2011

US Labor Department announces protocols for certifying U visa applications

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced protocols to complete the portion of the U visa nonimmigrant status application requiring certification by a law enforcement agency that the applicant is a victim of a qualifying crime and willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of that crime. U visas, as they are known, are designed to help victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse.

April 27, 2011

US Labor Department secures court ruling requiring Texas-based Henrys Turkey Service to pay $1.76 million to workers at Iowa processing plant

DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a partial summary judgment requiring Hill Country Farms, doing business as Henry's Turkey Service, and president Kenneth Henry to pay more than $1.76 million in back wages and liquidated damages for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The judgment partially resolves a lawsuit filed by the Labor Department following an investigation by the Des Moines District Office of its Wage and Hour Division.

April 12, 2011

US Department of Labor debars Seattle-based federal contractor for violating minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping laws

HWA provided services in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Missouri and New York

April 6, 2011

US Labor Department secures judgment with contempt finding against Long Island catering hall, restaurant and officers

Company also facing fines for repeated and willful violations of Fair Labor Standards Act

April 4, 2011

Prince Georges County Public Schools charged with violating provisions of H-1B temporary foreign worker program

US Department of Labor orders $4.2 million in back wages be paid to 1,044 teachers, fines school system $1.7 million in civil money penalties

March 30, 2011

Arizona underground utility contractor agrees to pay $750,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation

740 employees in California, Arizona and Nevada to be compensated

HESPERIA, Calif. — Arizona Pipeline Co. has agreed to pay $750,000 in back wages to 740 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, which found that the company violated the overtime and record keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 29, 2011

Levi Strauss agrees to pay more than $1 million in overtime back wages to nearly 600 employees following US Labor Department investigation

Overtime violations found at retail stores nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO — Levi Strauss & Co. has agreed to pay $1,011,413 in overtime back wages to 596 employees nationwide after the U.S. Department of Labor found that the company violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 24, 2011

US Labor Department reminds South Florida farmworkers of their rights under federal child labor, wages, crew transportation and field sanitation laws

Investigators visiting farms in South Florida to ensure compliance

MIAMI — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is reminding agricultural workers in South Florida that their rights are protected by the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act's Field Sanitation Standard. Virtually all employees engaged in agriculture are covered by federal law because they produce goods for interstate commerce.