LEVELLAND, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Ricky L. Bryant Ltd. – doing business as Bryant Electric in Levelland, Texas – has paid $44,685 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 43 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PHOENIX, AZ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Dream Center Education Holdings – a national educational enterprise based in Chandler, Arizona – has paid $411,478 in back wages to 485 employees after missed payroll resulted in minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LAS CRUCES, NM - The U.S. Department of Labor, in collaboration with various federal and state agencies, and other stakeholders – including the Small Business Development Center at the Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces, New Mexico – will host an educational outreach forum on February 11, 2020, for employers and others interested in information and guidance on regulations pertaining to agricultural employment.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Elite Road Service LLC – based in Clinton Township, Michigan – has paid $58,551 in back wages to 66 current and former employees to resolve violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BELLEVILLE, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Charter Township of Van Buren has paid $54,945 in back wages to 48 current and former employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Care Center on Hazeltine LLC – a healthcare center in Van Nuys, California – has paid $13,640 in lost wages and liquidated damages to a former employee after the employer violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

PHOENIX, AZ –  After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler – a restaurant based in Tucson, Arizona – will pay $114,964 in back wages and damages to 55 employees and $20,372 in civil penalties for violating minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SOLON, IA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), E & J Electric Inc. – based in Solon, Iowa, and operates as both E & J Electric Inc. & E & J Geothermal Inc. – has paid $126,420 in back wages to 25 current and former employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WESTBURY, NY – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has entered a consent judgment requiring three Long Island, New York-area restaurants and their owners to pay a total of $365,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 79 current and former employees. The court action follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and litigation by the department’s Office of the Solicitor. The defendants must also pay $15,000 in penalties.

COLUMBIA, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Dab City Tobacco and Vape LLC, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, will pay $46,748 in back wages and liquidated damages to 31 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The department also assessed the employer a $21,235 civil money penalty for the willful nature of the violations.

JACKSON, MS – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Warehouse Liquors & Wines Inc. – operating as Wines & Spirits in the Quarter in Jackson, Mississippi – has paid $22,782 in back wages and liquidated damages to six employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Manna Inc. – a Louisville, Kentucky-based franchisee of 99 Wendy’s and Fazoli’s restaurants in nine states – will pay a civil money penalty of $157,114 for violating child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LITTLE ROCK, AR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Aquapark LLC – doing business as Wild River Country in Little Rock, Arkansas – has paid $5,559 in civil money penalties to resolve child labor work hours violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SEATTLE, WA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Joy Fish Restaurant – a seafood restaurant in Seattle, Washington – will pay $99,625 to 28 employees to resolve  violations of provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

DETROIT, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Super Car Wash Systems & Holdings LLC – based in Royal Oak, Michigan – has paid $83,741 in back wages and damages to 60 current and former employees at nine Detroit metro-area car wash locations. WHD investigators found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SEATTLE, WA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Tacos Chukis – a restaurant with four locations in Seattle, Washington – has paid $419,459 to 92 employees to resolve violations of overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

AUSTIN, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rami Transportation Inc. – based in San Marcos, Texas – has paid $173,426 in back wages to 66 employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to update the regulations interpreting joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). They have not been meaningfully updated in over 60 years.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced three new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letters issued today are:

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Phoenix Renovation Corp. – a plumbing service company based in Honolulu, Hawaii – and its construction subsidiary will collectively pay $134,623 to 93 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the companies a total of $61,163 in civil penalties because of the willful nature of the violations.