U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Painting Contractor Paying $107,890 in Wages for Overtime Violations

ORLANDO, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Memos Painting & Drywall Inc. – based in Orlando, Florida – will pay $107,890 in back wages to 101 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found the residential and commercial painting contractor violated the FLSA overtime requirements when the employer paid employees straight-time rates for all hours that they worked. This led to overtime violations when the employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek but the employer did not pay overtime. Memos Painting & Drywall Inc. also failed to maintain accurate payroll records, a violation of the FLSA recordkeeping provision.

“Failing to pay required overtime shorts workers and puts an employer’s law-abiding competitors at an economic disadvantage,” said Wage and Hour District Director Daniel White, in Jacksonville, Florida. “The Jacksonville Wage and Hour Division office is available to help employers understand their obligations and avoid violations like those found in this case. We invite anyone with questions to call or visit us for assistance.”

The Department offers numerous resources to ensure employers have the tools they need to understand their responsibilities and to comply with federal law, such as online videos, confidential calls, or in-person visits to local WHD offices.

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the WHD, 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.

The mission of WHD is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation's workforce. WHD enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.