Department of Labor encourages recovery employers to be prepared to avoid wage violations before severe weather, other disasters strike

OKLAHOMA CITY –After severe weather and other natural calamities strike, the U.S. Department of Labor urges employers who clear debris, repair homes or provide other disaster recovery services to avoid using pay practices that violate federal regulations by taking advantage of the many resources it provides.

“While employers involved in disaster recovery are focused largely on responding to the needs of people in areas stricken when calm resumes, they cannot overlook their obligations to pay people fully and properly for the hard work they do,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director Michael Speer in Oklahoma City. “The U.S. Department of Labor acts quickly to protect workers’ rights to their full wages, protections and benefits, and encourage employers and workers to contact us for guidance to avoid compliance issues.”

Recent devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma are clear reminders of the benefits of the Wage and Hour Division’s Natural Disaster Compliance Assistance Toolkit. With downloadable information on preventing violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the kit focuses on the most common infractions by employers involved in disaster recovery, clean-up and rebuilding efforts. Typically, in a disaster’s aftermath, division investigators find employers not paying proper minimum, overtime and prevailing wages; misclassifying employees as independent contractors; keeping incomplete payroll records; and using child labor illegally. 

People employed in storm and disaster recovery whose employer failed to pay them fully may contact the division confidentially and toll-free at 1-866-4-US-WAGE (487-9243). The division protects workers regardless of immigration status and can communicate with workers in more than 200 languages. Learn more about contacting the division or about how to file a complaint.

Download the agency’s new Timesheet App, which is available in English and Spanish for Android and Apple devices, to ensure hours and pay are accurate.