South Florida Security Company to Pay $66,412 in Back Wages and Damages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

MIAMI, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), AWA Security Inc. – a security company based in Miami, Florida – will pay $66,412 in back wages and liquidated damages to 23 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found that AWA Security Inc. paid employees straight time rates for all the hours that they worked, failing to pay them overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. The employer issued employees separate checks or cash payments at straight time for their overtime hours, rather than paying them time-and-one-half their regular rates as required by law. The employer also violated the recordkeeping requirements of the FLSA when it failed to maintain accurate time and payroll records.

"Employers are responsible for ensuring they pay employees properly for all the hours that they work," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Tony Pham, in Miami, Florida. "We encourage employers to contact us with any questions they may have, and to use the variety of tools we offer to help them understand their obligations and to comply with the law. Costly violations like these 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). 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.