Arkansas Emergency Medical Services Provider Pays $91,044 to Resolve Overtime Violations Found in U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

CAMDEN, AR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Ouachita County Medical Center – a non-profit corporation headquartered in Camden, Arkansas – has paid $91,044 in back wages to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Ouachita County Medical Center violated the law when it required employees to remain onsite overnight, but failed to include those hours when calculating overtime payment. Additionally, the employer calculated overtime at rates lower than those required by law for some of its employees. The employer also failed to keep complete time and payroll records as required by the FLSA.

"Emergency medical professionals are critical to the welfare of the American people. We work to ensure that they, and all employees, are paid the wages they have legally earned," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Hanz Grünauer, in Little Rock, Arkansas. "We encourage employers to reach out to us for free and confidential assistance at any time to ensure that they are paying their employees correctly."

The U.S. Department of Labor provides numerous resources and tools to help employers understand their responsibilities and comply with federal law, such as online videos, confidential calls, or in-person visits to local WHD offices.

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