U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in South Carolina Sheriff’s Office Paying Deputies $48,229 in Back Wages

DARLINGTON, SC – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has resulted in the Darlington County, South Carolina, Sheriff's Office paying $48,229 in back wages to six deputies for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The Sheriff's Office paid the back wages after WHD investigators determined the employer failed to record and to pay deputies for all the hours they worked while performing K-9 care, handling, and training duties outside of their regularly scheduled shift hours. This practice resulted in overtime violations when that unpaid time caused overtime hours to be worked, yet remain unpaid. The Sheriff's Office's failure to record this time also resulted in a recordkeeping violation under the FLSA.  

"This case serves as a reminder for local governments to review their pay practices to ensure they are paying employees in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act," said Jamie Benefiel, Wage and Hour Division District Director in Columbia. "We encourage employers to contact us with any questions they may have, and to use the wide variety of tools we offer to help them understand their obligations and to comply with the law."

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/whd.