U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Fresno Plumbing Company Paying $113,315 to Resolve Overtime Wage Violations

FRESNO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), M&L Plumbing Co. Inc. – a plumbing company based in Fresno, California – will pay $113,351 in back wages due to 39 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA).

WHD investigators determined that M&L Plumbing Co. Inc. failed to record or pay employees for time they spent loading equipment and materials at the company's location before traveling to the first worksite of the day. This unpaid time resulted in overtime violations when employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek, but were not paid overtime. The practice also led to FLSA recordkeeping violations when the employer failed to accurately record the total number of hours actually worked.

"Employers must pay their employees for all of the hours that they work, including any work that occurs before or after their scheduled shifts," said Wage and Hour Division Assistant District Director Nora Pedraza, in Fresno. "Violations like those found in this investigation can be avoided. The U.S. Department of Labor provides many tools to help employers comply with the law, and we encourage employers and employees alike to contact us for assistance."

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 the Wage and Hour Division, contact the Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool for workers who may be owed back wages collected by WHD.