U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Ohio Company Paying $80,593 in Back Wages to 474 Employees

DUBLIN, OH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Check Smart Financial LLC – based in Dublin, Ohio, and operator of 530 CheckCashing USA locations in 12 states – will pay $80,593 in unpaid wages to 474 current and former employees.

The WHD investigation of five local branches of the company revealed Check Smart Financial LLC violated overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by making deductions from employees' pay to recover cash shortages in the stores. This practice resulted in violations during workweeks when employees worked over 40 hours.

Based upon the findings in Ohio, the employer cooperated in expanding the review to all CheckCashing USA locations, and will pay back wages to employees affected by the illegal deduction issue companywide.

"Employers must pay their employees all the wages they have legally earned. As a result of the U.S. Department of Labor investigation, Check Smart Financial LLC has stopped the deduction practice to ensure compliance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act," said Wage and Hour Division District Director George Victory, in Columbus. "We encourage all employers to contact us for guidance and to use the wide variety of tools we offer to help them comply with the law."

If you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD, you can search our database of workers for whom we have money waiting to be claimed. If you find that you are due money, you can submit a claim. Begin by entering the employer's name, then click "WOW Search."

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 WHD, contact the Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at http://www.dol.gov/whd.