September 26, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgment Ordering Boston Pizza Restaurant to Pay $240,000 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a consent judgment requiring Boston-based Village Pizza and Grill and its owner, Klaundjon Totoni, to pay $115,841 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 14 employees, plus $8,317 in civil penalties. The judgment follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that identified violations of the child labor, overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 26, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Proposal to Allow Younger Americans to Safely Develop Skills for Careers in Healthcare

WASHINGTON, DC – With over 1.1 million jobs currently open in healthcare and social assistance, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a proposal to allow younger Americans to safely develop critical skills for fast-growing jobs in healthcare – which are expected to add 2.4 million jobs, more than any other occupation, through 2026.

September 26, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $429,005 in Back Wages For Georgia Department of Corrections Officers

FORSYTH, GA – The Georgia Department of Corrections has paid $429,005 in back wages to 1,257 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation uncovered overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at more than 40 facilities statewide.

September 25, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in City Of Detroit Creating Employee Lactation Stations

DETROIT, MI – The City of Detroit, Michigan, has created a total of five lactation stations and amended its break policy to accommodate nursing employees’ needs to express and store milk during the workday. The policy changes follow an investigation by the U.S.

September 25, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Arizona Transportation Company Paying $64,584 Due to 73 Employees

PHOENIX, AZ – Insearch Corp. – based in Tempe, Arizona – will pay $64,584 to 73 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the transportation company violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 25, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgment Ordering Yonkers Care Facility to Pay $385,000 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

WHITE PLAINS, NY – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has entered a consent judgment requiring Hudson View Care Center Inc. - doing business as Regency Extended Care Center - and owner Michael Melnicke to pay $182,500 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 81 employees, plus $20,000 in civil penalties. The judgment follows an investigation by the U.S.

September 25, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $14.3 Million for Hurricane Recovery Workers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

GUAYNABO, P.R. – In the year since hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has recovered $14,337,657 in unpaid wages for 7,761 employees engaged in recovery work in those territories. WHD has also undertaken significant outreach activities to educate employers and employees about compliance with federal wage laws, as part of its ongoing hurricane response efforts.

September 21, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Alabama Company Unlawfully Discharged Employee in Violation of Family and Medical Leave Act

MONTGOMERY, AL – Ozark Safety Services LLC – based in Montgomery, Alabama – has paid a former employee $10,095 in lost wages after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

WHD investigators found Ozark Safety Services LLC discharged the employee for absences that qualified for FMLA-protected leave. Rather than categorizing the absences as allowed and covered under the FMLA, the company labeled them as unauthorized, and took improper disciplinary action.

September 21, 2018

Alabama Police Department Pays $56,681 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

OPELIKA, AL – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has resulted in the Opelika, Alabama, Police Department paying $56,681 in back wages to seven officers for violations of overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 20, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Pennsylvania Car Repair Center Paying $67,462 in Back Wages and Damages

ELLWOOD CITY, PA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Boehm Family Enterprises LLC – doing business as McElwain Brothers Paint and Collision in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania – has paid $33,731 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 12 mechanics and painters to resolve violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 17, 2018

North Carolina Sawmill Pays Back Wages and Penalty After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Child Labor and Wage Violations

RUTHERFORDTON, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has assessed D&M Logging Inc. a civil penalty of $9,112 for violating Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) child labor requirements after a minor suffered a hand injury while employed at the company’s sawmill in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. D&M Logging Inc. paid the civil money penalty. Additionally, D&M Logging Inc. paid $12,692 to 11 employees to correct the overtime violations.

September 17, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Listening Session About Proposed Overtime Rule in Providence, Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI – On September 24, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Providence, Rhode Island, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the "Overtime Rule."

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Washington State Staffing Company Paying $355,478 to Resolve Wage Violations

SEATTLE, WA – People Tech Group Inc. – a Redmond, Washington, information technology staffing company – will pay 12 employees $309,914 after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated the labor provisions of the H-1B visa program by paying its guest workers far below the required wages, and sometimes not paying them at all. The Department also assessed the company $45,564 in civil penalties for the violations.

September 13, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Recovers $3.5 Million in Back Wages and Benefits to Employees at a Long Beach, California, Company

LONG BEACH, CA – California Cartage Company LLC – based in Long Beach, California – will pay $3,573,074 to 1,416 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the company violated federal contract provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

September 12, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Protects American Workers With H-2B Education and Enforcement Initiative in the Landscaping Industry

WASHINGTON, DC - To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a nationwide initiative to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program in the landscaping industry. The initiative includes providing compliance assistance tools and information to employers and stakeholders, as well as conducting investigations of employers using this program.

September 10, 2018

CORRECTED: U.S. Department of Labor Investigations Result in San Diego-Area Massage Parlors Paying $61,317 to Resolve Wage Violations

SAN DIEGO, CA – Two San Diego-area massage parlor companies – Yuanjun International Inc. and Rama Thai Massage – will pay 17 employees a collective $61,317 after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigations found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 10, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Listening Session About Proposed Overtime Rule in Denver, Colorado

DENVER, CO – On September 14, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MDT, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Denver, Colorado, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the "Overtime Rule."

September 10, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Wage and Child Labor Violations at Mississippi Slaughterhouse

SUMMIT, MS – Kased Brothers Halal Meat Inc. – a slaughterhouse based in Summit, Mississippi – paid $14,768 in back wages to 12 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The company was assessed and paid a civil penalty of $8,368 for child labor violations.

September 10, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Listening Session About Proposed Overtime Rule in Kansas City, Missouri

KANSAS CITY, MO On September 13, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CDT, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public listening session in Kansas City, Missouri, to gather views on the Part 541 white-collar exemption regulations, often referred to as the “Overtime Rule.”

September 7, 2018

Florida Construction Company to Pay $111,197 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Uncovers Violations

WINTER GARDEN, FL – KBL Buildings Inc. – based in Winter Garden, Florida – will pay $111,197 in back wages to 100 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that the metal framing construction company violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).