Department of Labor recovers more than $153K in back wages, damages from South Carolina convenience store that denied overtime to workers

Read this news release En Español. 

Employer:      Samer Express LLC

295 Glenn Road

West Columbia, SC 29172

Investigation findings: U.S. Department of Labor investigators found a West Columbia gas station and convenience retailer failed to pay 29 employees overtime rates as required by law. Specifically, the employer paid straight time for all hours worked, and failed to pay the overtime premium of time and one-half employees’ hourly rates for hours over 40 in a workweek, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

Back wages and liquidated damages recovered:   $153,506 for the affected workers.

Quote: “The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring workers get every dollar they earned,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Jamie Benefiel in Columbia, South Carolina. “Failing to pay the proper rate for all of the hours employees work is a violation employers can and must avoid. We encourage employers with questions to reach out to us for compliance assistance, and for help understanding their obligations to their employees.”

Background: Samer Express LLCis a convenience store that also offers gasoline and food to consumers. The establishment was incorporated in South Carolina in January 2017. 

Employers and workers alike can contact the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE – regardless of where they are from – and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a fact sheet on Fair Labor Standards Act wage laws overtime requirements. Workers and employers can help track hours worked and pay by downloading the department’s Android and iOS timesheet app for free, which is available in English and Spanish.