US Labor Department recovers $33K in back wages for 28 workers after Lake City ambulance services failed to pay overtime at required rates

Employer:                              Excelsior Ambulance Service Inc.

                                                173 SE Baya Drive

                                                Lake City, FL 32025

Investigation findings: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found the ambulance service provider paid workers an incorrect overtime rate, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The agency found that the employer failed to pay the correct overtime rate after the Florida minimum wage rate increased from $10 per hour to $11 per hour on Sept. 30, 2022. Instead, Excelsior Ambulance Service continued paying the lesser wage rate after the change became effective, leading to paying overtime at rates lower than required by law. 

Back wages and liquidated damages recovered: The division recovered $33,319 in back wages and liquidated damages for 28 workers.                           

Quote: “The resolution of this investigation should serve as a reminder to employers to stay current with all changes to regulations that govern employee pay and benefits. Failing to do so can lead to a costly lesson,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Vilma Bell in Orlando, Florida. “Employees deserve to take home every dollar they earn. Employers unsure of their legal obligations under the law should contact their local Wage and Hour Division office for assistance. That’s the best way to ensure they pay employees all their rightful wages and avoid costly compliance issues.”

Background: Excelsior Ambulance Service currently provides ambulance services for the Lake City Veteran Affairs Medical Center and the VA Nursing Home Care Unit in Lake City. Additionally, they serve residents in St. Mary’s, Augusta and Greensboro, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama. The company employs approximately 200 employees across its locations. 

Employers can contact the Wage and Hour Division at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including its search tool to learn if you are owed back wages collected by the division. Workers and employers alike can help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and iOS Timesheet App available for free in English or Spanish.