News Brief
US Department of Labor investigation finds Houston area drywall contractor violated federal law, misclassified workers as independent contractors
Employer name: First Choice Interiors LLC
Investigation site: 11430 Bissonnet Street, Suite E1
Houston, TX 77099
Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found First Choice Interiors LLC failed to pay the overtime premium to 39 workers by only paying straight time for all hours worked, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Investigators also found the employer in violation of the record keeping provisions of the act by failing to maintain complete time records for non-exempt employees.
Back wages recovered: $22,492 in overtime back wages to 39 workers
Quote: “The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that every employee receives the wages they have rightfully earned and that employers in all industries comply with the law,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Robin Mallett in Houston. “Employers cannot misclassify employees as independent contractors to evade federal labor laws. We encourage all employers to review their pay practices and take advantage of the many tools we offer to assist them in understanding the law and avoiding costly penalties and damages for labor violations.”
