Conveyor belt manufacturer paying $250K in unpaid wages to 17 workers following U.S. Department of Labor investigation

Employer: DDS Conveyor, Inc.

Site: 3265 West Post Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89118

Investigation findings: Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division's Las Vegas office found that DDS Conveyor, Inc. missed several payrolls. Employees received no wages for the hours they worked during pay periods for which a payroll was missed, resulting in minimum wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, due to the missed payrolls, employees who worked more than 40 hours in a work week were denied overtime compensation. The FLSA requires employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour as well as overtime compensation at time and one-half their regular rates for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. The owners of the company claimed that financial difficulties made it hard to pay employees on time.

Resolution: The investigation found $229,665 in minimum wage and $26,848 in overtime back wages due to 17 workers, totaling $256,513.

Quote: "We understand that companies have financial ups and downs, but it is the responsibility of all employers to ensure that they pay their workers. Employers are required to maintain current payroll, and cannot withhold employees' pay to finance operations. We are pleased that this company came into immediate compliance," said Gaspar Montanez, district director for the Wage and Hour office in Las Vegas. "These workers will now receive the hard-earned money they deserve. "

Information: The FLSA requires that covered, nonexempt employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for all hours worked, plus time and one-half their regular rates, including commissions, bonuses and incentive pay, for hours worked beyond 40 per week. In general, hours worked includes all time an employee must be on duty, or on the employer's premises or at any other prescribed place of work, from the beginning of the first principal work activity to the end of the last principal activity of the workday. Additionally, the law requires that accurate records of employees' wages, hours and other conditions of employment be maintained. For more information about the FLSA and other federal wage laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division, call the agency's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), or the Las Vegas office at 702-388-6001. Information is also available at http://www.dol.gov/whd/.