March 22, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor’s Overtime Proposal Open for Public Comment

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that the Office of the Federal Register has published the Department's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would make more than a million more American workers eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The official publication in the Federal Register marks the start of the proposal's public comment period, which will remain open for 60 days and close on May 21, 2019.

March 22, 2019

University of Northern Iowa Settles Alleged Family and Medical Leave Act Violations Found in U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

CEDAR FALLS, IA – The State of Iowa, Board of Regents - operating as the University of Northern Iowa - has entered into a settlement agreement to resolve alleged violations of an employee's protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as found in a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation.

March 21, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Fines City of Orem After Investigation Finds Child Labor Violations

CITY OF OREM, UT – The City of Orem, Utah, has paid $16,350 in civil money penalties to resolve child labor violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the city employed 25 children under the age of 16 at its Scera Park Pools after 9 p.m. in the summers of 2017 and 2018.

March 19, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigations Find Wage Violations At Kentucky Fried Chicken and Arby’s in South Carolina and Georgia

GREENVILLE, SC – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Whiteford's Inc. – operator of 30 Kentucky Fried Chicken and Arby's fast food locations in South Carolina and Georgia, and based in Greenville, South Carolina – has paid $32,797 in back wages to 298 employees for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 19, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Green Bay, Wisconsin Restaurant Paying $106,856 in Back Wages and $6,591 in Penalties

GREEN BAY, WI – Following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, a Green Bay, Wisconsin, restaurant and its owner have paid $106,856 in back wages to 109 current and former employees, and an additional $6,591 in civil money penalties for child labor violations and willful overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 19, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Alabama Sheriff’s Department Paying $49,968 in Back Wages for Overtime Violations

ATHENS, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Limestone County Sheriff's Department – based in Athens, Alabama – will pay $49,968 in back wages to 126 employees for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 19, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Court Requiring West Virginia Consulting Firm to Pay $1,635,804 in Back Wages and Damages

BRIDGEPORT, WV – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a federal appeals court affirmed a district court judgment requiring Fire & Safety Investigation Consulting Services LLC – based in Bridgeport, West Virginia – to pay $817,902 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 70 employees.

March 18, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Fire Protection Company Paying $315,846 in Back Wages and Damages to 14 Employees

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Alliance Fire Protection Inc. – based in Albuquerque, New Mexico – has paid $157,923 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 14 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping requirements.

March 15, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance Regarding Employers’ Obligations When Posting Electronic Notice under H-1B Visa Program

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) reiterating employers' responsibilities under the H-1B visa program.

March 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Opinion Letters

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and 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 individual person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letters issued today are:

March 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Farm Paying $18,844 in Back Wages to 14 Employees for Wage Violations

OCOEE, FL - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Lake Meadow Naturals LLC – an agricultural employer based in Ocoee, Florida – has paid $18,844 in back wages to 14 employees for violating overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Court Ordering West Virginia Company to Pay $3.7 Million in Back Wages and Damages

MILLWOOD, WV - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia has ordered Team Environmental LLC – a natural gas pipeline construction management company based in Millwood, West Virginia – to pay 300 safety inspectors $1,850,000 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 13, 2019

Massachusetts Pizza Restaurants’ Owners To Pay $330,000 in Back Wages And Liquidated Damages to 150 Employees After Federal Investigation

BOSTON, MA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and subsequent litigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has issued a consent judgment ordering Stavros "Steve" Papantoniadis and Polyxeny "Paulina" Papantoniadis – owners of a chain of eastern Massachusetts-area pizza restaurants – to pay a total of $330,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 150 current and former employees.

March 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in South Florida Assisted Living Facility Paying $103,389 in Back Wages to 20 Employees

PEMBROKE PINES, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Paradise Villa Retirement Home Inc. – operator of five South Florida assisted living facilities – has paid $103,389 in back wages to 20 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Laundry Service Paying $60,863 in Back Wages to 15 Employees

ORLANDO, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Crown Linen LLC – based in Orlando, Florida – will pay $60,863 in back wages to 15 employees for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Conducting Wage Survey of New Hampshire Highway Construction Projects

MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a statewide survey of New Hampshire highway construction projects that occurred between November 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018, to establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The data collection initiative is not limited to federally funded construction projects.

March 7, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Releases Overtime Update Proposal

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would make more than a million more American workers eligible for overtime.

March 5, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Company Paying $41,677 in Back Wages to 111 Employees

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Fast Frontier LLC – based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and operating as Cricket Wireless – has paid $41,677 in back wages to 111 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at 54 locations in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

March 5, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in South Carolina Roofing Company Paying $156,346 in Back Wages to 84 Employees

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Monarch Co. – based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and operating as Monarch Roofing – will pay $156,346 in back wages to 84 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 5, 2019

Federal Court of Appeals Affirms U.S. Department of Labor’s Findings In Wage Violation Case against Louisville Security Services Provider

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio, issued an opinion affirming the Department's assertion that Off Duty Police Services Inc. – a security and traffic control services provider based in Louisville, Kentucky – violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).