U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results In Florida Hotel Paying $64,786 in Back Wages

KISSIMMEE, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Brooks Hospitality Corp. – operator of the Comfort Suites Maingate East in Kissimmee, Florida, and Gemini Global, a Kissimmee-based hotel staffing agency – has paid $64,786 in back wages to 100 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators determined that Brooks Hospitality Corp. entered into an agreement with Gemini Global Inc. that resulted in both entities being responsible as employers of the housekeeping and food service employees under the FLSA. WHD found that Brooks Hospitality Corp. paid the employees it hired through Gemini Global straight-time for all the hours that they worked, resulting in overtime violations when the employers failed to pay the workers time-and-one-half when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. Brooks Hospitality also failed to include certain bonuses employees earned in the calculation when they determined workers' overtime rates. This exclusion resulted in employees being paid overtime rates lower than those required by law.

"The U.S. Department of Labor remains committed to ensuring employees receive all the wages they have rightfully earned," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Daniel White, in Jacksonville, Florida. "Employers must be aware of their responsibilities under the law and make sure to calculate their employees' pay correctly, and pay particular attention to overtime that is due once employees work more than 40 hours in a week. We encourage employers to call us any time or to use the many tools we offer to help them comply with the law, pay workers legally, and avoid 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.