U.S Department of Labor Investigation Results in Michigan Gas Station Paying $64,146 in Overtime Back Wages, Damages to 3 Employees

CANTON, MI – Canton Petroleum – a gas station and convenience store based in Canton, Michigan – will pay three employees $64,146 in unpaid overtime wages and liquidated damages following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation that found the company violated overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  

The Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) in Detroit determined the company failed to pay employees required overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. WHD investigators found Canton Petroleum paid employees for up to 40 hours of work in their paychecks, and then only occasionally paid them an additional approximately $100 in cash for their overtime hours, without regard to how many hours they had actually worked. The company also failed to maintain accurate records of the number of hours employees worked and to post the FLSA requirements.

"Employers must understand their obligations under the law and pay wages accordingly. Failing to pay hard-earned overtime hurts employees, and places other employers at a competitive disadvantage," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Timolin Mitchell, in Detroit. "We encourage employers to contact the Wage and Hour Division for assistance, and to make use of the many tools we provide to help them understand the law."

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Division, contact the Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers who discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program. Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD.