U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Laundry Service Paying $60,863 in Back Wages to 15 Employees

ORLANDO, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Crown Linen LLC – based in Orlando, Florida – will pay $60,863 in back wages to 15 employees for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found that the employer incorrectly considered two groups of employees as exempt from the overtime requirements as managers under the FLSA. This misapplication of the exemption resulted in the employer paying overtime-eligible employees flat weekly salaries without regard to the number of hours they worked. This practice resulted in violations when these employees worked more than 40 hours per week and were not paid overtime. Additionally, the employer paid other employee’s straight time instead of overtime when they worked over 40 hours in a workweek. The employer also failed to maintain required records of the number of hours employees worked.

“Our enforcement ensures that workers like these are paid the wages they have earned, and that employers compete on a level playing field,” said Wage and Hour District Director Daniel White, in Jacksonville. “We encourage all employers to reach out to us and use the wide variety of tools we offer to help them understand their responsibilities, and avoid wage violations.”

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the 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 https://www.dol.gov/whd.