U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Ohio Bakery Paying $80,726 in Back Overtime Wages to 27 Employees

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Unger’s Kosher Bakery Inc. – a bakery and grocery store based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio – has paid $80,726 in back wages to 27 employees for overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators determined the employer violated federal wage laws by failing to pay employees overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. Investigators found the company generally paid straight time for all hours worked and directed some employees to use a second time card to record any hours they worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. The employer paid for hours recorded on the second time cards in cash, at straight time. The employer violated FLSA recordkeeping requirements when they failed to maintain accurate payroll records showing the total number of hours employees worked, or the total payments made to workers.

“Our enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s wage requirements ensures that workers are paid the wages they have earned, and levels the playing field so that employers who break the law do not gain an unfair economic advantage over those who play by the rules,” said Wage and Hour District Director George Victory, in Columbus. “We encourage employers to contact us for confidential guidance, and to use the wide variety of tools we offer to help them understand their responsibilities, and comply with the law.”

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