US Department of Labor recovers $150K in back wages, damages for 37 misclassified Amarillo maintenance, parts runners denied overtime pay

Employer:      Pace Enterprise LLC, operating as Pace Realty Group 

                             4005 SW 50th Ave. 

                             Amarillo, TX 79109 

Investigation findings: A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found the owner of Pace Enterprise LLC – operating as Pace Realty Group – misclassified 37 maintenance workers and parts runners as independent contractors and, by doing so, failed to pay them overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, the employer failed to keep legally required records.

Back Wages recovered: $75,061 in overtime wages and $75,061 in liquidated damages for 37 employees.                                             

Quote: “By misclassifying employees as independent contractors, the employer denied them full wages and important benefits and protections,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Evelyn Ortiz in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Employers have the legal obligation to follow labor laws. If you need help understanding labor law requirements, contact us.”

Workers can use the division’s Workers Owed Wages search tool to see if they are owed back wages collected by the division. Employers and workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division for assistance at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including the agency’s restaurants compliance assistance toolkit and an overview about the FLSA protections for restaurant workers. 

Workers and employers alike can help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and iOS Timesheet App for free in English or Spanish.