WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced three new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letters issued today are:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a national online dialogue, Providing Expanded Family and Medical Leave to Employees Affected by COVID-19, to help employers and workers understand their responsibilities and rights, respectively, under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

On March 18, 2020, the President signed into law the FFCRA, requiring certain employers to provide employees with paid family and medical leave or paid sick leave for specified reasons in response to COVID-19.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced its first round of published guidance to provide information to employees and employers about how each will be able to take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) when it takes effect on April 1, 2020.

PHOENIX, AZ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Southwest Windows & Doors LLC – based in Tempe, Arizona – will pay $577,997 to 109 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements.   

DORAVILLE, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the operator of an Atlanta-area restaurant enterprise will pay $411,010 in back wages to 157 employees at locations in Doraville and Duluth, Georgia, for violating minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

RANDLEMAN, NC– After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Butler Trailer Manufacturing Co. – based in Randleman, North Carolina – has paid $120,567 in back wages and liquidated damages to 40 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LEXINGTON, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Lucas Builders Inc. – based in Lexington, South Carolina – has paid $43,663 in back wages and liquidated damages to 15 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CHARLOTTE, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina ordered Hot Taco LLC – a Charlotte, North Carolina, restaurant – to pay $120,949 in back wages and liquidated damages to 67 employees for minimum wage violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

HOUSTON, TX – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Ryuko International LLC and Izakaya WA-River Oaks – both doing business as Izakaya WA in Houston, Texas – have paid $150,371 in back wages to 18 employees to resolve minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

KATY, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Terry’s Landscape LLC – based in Katy, Texas – has paid $5,165 in back wages and $20,399 in civil money penalties to settle H-2B non-immigrant visa program violations and $6,472 in back wages for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

RALEIGH, NC – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, SBHLP Inc. – a Lake Placid, Florida-based H-2A labor contractor that supplied workers for five North Carolina farms – is required to pay $224,249 in wages to 194 employees for violating requirements of the H-2A visa program. The department also assessed the employer a $239,430 civil penalty and debarred the labor contractor for 3 years.

ROCKVALE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Outdoors Unlimited Inc. – a landscaping company based in Rockvale, Tennessee – will pay $52,000 in back wages to 21 employees for violating labor provisions of the H-2B visa program. WHD also debarred the employer from participating in the H-2B temporary non-agricultural labor certification program for one year.

HOUSTON, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), D & V Painting Services – based in Houston, Texas – has paid $67,363 in back wages for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SULPHUR, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Versa Integrity Group Inc. – based in Sulphur, Louisiana – has paid $495,901 in back wages to 411 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

BOISE, IDAHO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Cano Roofing Inc. – a construction company doing business as Signature Roofing in Eagle, Idaho – will pay $48,206 to 68 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements. WHD also assessed $5,526 in civil penalties to Cano Roofing Inc. for several child labor violations.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is currently engaged in an education and enforcement initiative to increase compliance with federal labor laws in the Southeast’s agricultural industry, educate stakeholders, employers and employees, and to provide employers with compliance assistance.

BOISE, IDAHO – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Cano Roofing Inc. – a construction company doing business as Signature Roofing in Eagle, Idaho – will pay $48,206 to 68 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements. WHD also assessed $5,526 in civil penalties to Cano Roofing Inc. for several child labor violations.

LITTLE ROCK, AR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bradford Marine Inc. – doing business as Bradford Marine & ATV headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas – has paid $26,265 in back wages to 28 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

MISSION, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Mobile Diesel Services LLC – based in Mission, Texas – has paid $139,165 to 47 employees to resolve violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PITTSBURGH, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a $400,000 consent judgment for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by Heart II Heart LLC – a company providing adult community residential rehabilitation homes for individuals with disabilities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.