US Department of Labor finds wage violations at northeast Louisiana drug and alcohol recovery center, recovers $23K in back wages for six workers

RAYVILLE, LA – Like many in the addiction treatment industry, Rayville Recovery employees work long hours – beyond regular shifts and on weekends – to help individuals overcome their drug and alcohol dependence. A recent federal investigation found Rayville failed to pay some of these essential workers legally when they worked overtime. 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found Rayville Recovery violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime requirements when the employer failed to pay six workers time-and-one-half for overtime hours as the law requires. The employer also failed to provide complete payroll records, another FLSA violation.

The investigation led to the division’s recovery of $23,510 in back wages for six workers.

“Essential workers who provide healthcare services supply critical support to those most in need, and employers must pay these workers as legally required when they work long hours,” said Wage and Hour District Director Troy Mouton in New Orleans. “Employees who are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime protections must receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week.”

Rayville Recovery has 85 employees at two facilities in Louisiana. The employer paid all back wages due and agreed to comply with the law in the future.

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the division, contact the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.

Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions – regardless of their immigration status – and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.