News Release
Federal investigation recovers $238K in back overtime wages for over 1,000 installers employed by Puerto Rico solar equipment company
GUAYNABO, PR – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has recovered $238,746 in overtime wages owed to 1,024 solar panel and system installers employed by a renewable energy company in Puerto Rico that failed to include various bonuses in their salaries and calculated overtime wages incorrectly.
The department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Windmar Home/Windmar P.V. Energy Inc.’s actions caused a significant shortfall in the employees’ wages and violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. In a settlement agreement with the division, the employer agreed to pay the back overtime wages and to future FLSA compliance.
“Our investigators identified that more than 1,000 solar industry workers were being shortchanged because their employer failed to include performance bonuses when calculating overtime wages,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Jose Vazquez in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. “Employers in Puerto Rico’s fast-growing solar industry should familiarize themselves with regulations governing their pay practices to avoid the often significant financial consequences that come when these laws are violated.”
The division is currently distributing monies owed to workers covered by this investigation from Windmar and is trying to locate current or former employees who believe they are owed back wages from this investigation. Workers who believe they are owed wages are encouraged to use the division’s Workers Owed Wages online search tool to claim their back wages or to contact the division’s Caribbean District Office in Guaynabo at 787-775-1947 if they have questions.
Based in San Juan, Windmar P.V. Energy Inc./Windmar Home is a renewable energy company and a subsidiary of Windmar Group, headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division and overtime. Workers and employers can also call the division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) confidentially with questions, regardless of immigration status. The division can speak with callers in more than 200 languages. Download the agency’s free Timesheet App for Android and iOS devices, available in English and Spanish, to help track work hours and pay.
