U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in $209,106 in Back Wages for 131 Georgia Patrolmen, Courthouse and Jail Guards

HINESVILLE, GA – The Liberty County Board of Commissioners will pay $209,106 in back wages to 131 employees for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) found in a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation.

WHD investigators found the Hinesville, Georgia-based employer failed to pay courthouse guards, jail guards, and patrolmen for all the hours that they worked, including mandatory meetings, trainings, and occasions when they covered shifts for other employees. These unpaid hours resulted in overtime violations when the employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. The employer’s failure to keep accurate daily and weekly records of the hours employees worked also resulted in a FLSA recordkeeping violation.

“The Wage and Hour Division works to ensure that employees receive the wages they rightfully earned, and that employers compete on a level playing field,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Eric Williams, in Atlanta. “We encourage all employers to reach out to us and to use the wide variety of compliance tools we offer to help them understand their responsibilities. Violations like those found in this investigation can be avoided.”

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). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/whd.