Ohio Mental Health Center Pays $48,698 in Overtime Back Wages To 47 Employees after U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

DAYTON, OH – A Dayton, Ohio mental health and drug rehabilitation center has paid $48,698 in overtime back wages to 47 employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found Cornerstone Project LLC violated federal overtime provisions when the employer automatically deducted 30 minutes a day from employees' recorded work time for lunch breaks, without regard to whether workers actually took those breaks. This practice resulted in overtime violations when employees regularly worked through those breaks unpaid. WHD also cited the employer for recordkeeping violations for failing to record this work time.

"Employers must comply with federal laws designed to make sure employees receive the wages they have rightfully earned," said Wage and Hour District Director George Victory, in Columbus. "The Wage and Hour Division encourages all employers to review their pay practices and to use the wide variety of tools we offer, or to contact us directly to help them understand their obligations."

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.