U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Los Angeles Supported Living Services Provider Paying $301,763 to 67 Employees

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Golden Life Supported Living Agency Inc. – a service provider for clients with developmental disabilities in Los Angeles, California – will pay 67 employees $301,763 in back wages for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found that Golden Life Supported Living Agency Inc. paid only straight-time rates to its hourly-paid care provider employees without regard to the number of hours they worked. This practice resulted in violations when the employer failed to pay overtime when employees worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek. The employer's failure to accurately record the overtime hours worked also resulted in recordkeeping violations under the FLSA.

"Employers are responsible for paying their employees all the wages that they have earned, including the payment of overtime rates when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek," said Wage and Hour District Director Kimchi Bui, in Los Angeles. "We encourage all employers to make use of the many tools we offer to help them understand their responsibilities, and to reach out to us directly, and confidentially, with any questions they may have about how to comply with the law."

Employers that 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 Wage and Hour Division, contact the Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). 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 the Division.