U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Arizona Roofing Company Paying $86,714 to 30 Employees to Resolve Wage Violations

PHOENIX, AZ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Surebuild LLC – a roofing and general contractor based in Cottonwood, Arizona – will pay $86,714 in back wages and liquidated damages due to 30 employees for overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department also assessed Surebuild LLC $16,456 in civil penalties for the willful nature of the violations.

WHD investigators found that Surebuild LLC paid employees straight-time rates, in cash, for the overtime hours they worked instead of paying them time-and-one-half for those hours as required by the FLSA. The employer also failed to issue a final paycheck to one employee, resulting in a minimum wage violation. Additionally, the employer failed to maintain complete records of the numbers of hours employees worked.

"Employers must pay employees the wages they have legally earned for all the hours they have worked," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Eric Murray, in Phoenix. "We encourage all employers to use the many tools the Department provides to help them understand their obligations and to comply with the law. Violations like these can be avoided."

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour 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 www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD.