September 26, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor’s Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program Finds More Than $4 Million in Back Wages for 7,429 Employees

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program has put more than $4 million in back wages into the hands of 7,429 employees since the program began last year. The Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), which administers this program, submitted a report today to the Senate Committee on Appropriations outlining PAID's performance to-date.

September 25, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Initiative Finds Minneapolis ‘Eat Street’ Restaurants Owe $367,359 in Back Wages and Damages to 162 Employees

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime, minimum wage and record-keeping requirements at 15 restaurants in Minneapolis' "Eat Street" district during an education and enforcement initiative. The effort will recover $367,359 in back wages and liquidated damages for 162 employees.

September 24, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Overtime Rule

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 24, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Fines New Orleans Restaurant For Violating Child Labor Laws After Minor Suffers Oil Burns

NEW ORLEANS, LA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Jacques-Imo Café – a restaurant based in New Orleans, Louisiana – has paid $55,288 in civil money penalties for violating multiple child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 23, 2019

Texas Construction Company Pays Back Wages to Misclassified Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Violations

SPRING, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Aztec Construction Inc. – doing business as RSP Aztec Construction Inc. in Spring, Texas – has paid $25,380 in back wages to five employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime requirements.

September 20, 2019

Hawaii Maritime Repair Company to Pay $239,380 Due to 47 Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Davis-Bacon Act Violations

HONOLULU, HI – A Honolulu, Hawaii, maritime repair company will pay $239,380 to 47 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer failed to pay the prevailing wages required for work performed on a government-funded contract at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

September 20, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Georgia Contractor Paying $58,838 Penalty for Child Labor Violation

OCHLOCKNEE, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rite-A-Way Mowers LLC – a Buena Vista, Georgia-based mowing contractor – has paid a civil penalty of $58,383 violating federal child labor laws when it employed a 15-year-old to operate a power-driven weed cutter. The minor drowned while clearing brush along Georgia's Ochlockonee River.

September 20, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Conducting Wage Survey Of Building Construction Projects in Missouri’s Metro Counties

ST. LOUIS, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a building construction survey of the metropolitan counties in the state of Missouri to collect data to establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The survey covers active building construction projects in the metropolitan counties in the state of Missouri between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. It is not limited to federally funded construction projects.

September 20, 2019

South Carolina Security Contractor Pays $40,077 in Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Federal Contract Wage and Benefit Violations

COLUMBIA, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Grids Security Services LLC – based in Columbia, South Carolina – has paid $40,077 in back wages to nine employees, for violating requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

September 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Auto Parts Manufacturer Reinstating, Paying Employee for Family and Medical Leave Act Violations

ROME, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Neaton Rome Inc. – an automobile parts manufacturer based in Rome, Georgia – has reinstated and paid an employee $13,133 in lost wages as WHD found the employer terminated the employee in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

September 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Michigan Health Care Providers Paying $400,000 in Back Wages to 476 Employees

DETROIT, MI – Two Detroit area residential care facilities operated by Beaumont Health will pay $400,007 in back wages to 476 employees after investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping provisions. Investigators determined 283 employees at Beaumont Commons in Dearborn, Michigan, are due $250,659 in back wages, and 193 employees at Botsford Commons in Farmington Hills, Michigan, are due $149,348.

September 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Pennsylvania Restaurant Violated Federal Wage Laws

OAKDALE, PA – Burke Inc. – doing business as Pepperoncini's Pub in Oakdale, Pennsylvania – has paid $12,034 in back wages, and an equal amount in liquidated damages to four employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 12, 2019

Tennessee Management Company Pays $45,378 for Overtime Violations Found by U.S. Department of Labor in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina

NASHVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Accelerated Learning Solutions Inc. – a school management company based in Nashville, Tennessee – has paid $45,378 in back wages to 59 employees for violating the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

September 12, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Files Contempt Petition Against Massachusetts Companies Ordered to Pay $2.4 Million in Back Wages, Damages

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor has asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to hold two Massachusetts construction companies and two of their officers in civil contempt for not fulfilling the terms of an August 2016 consent judgment and order that requires them to pay $2,359,685 in back wages and liquidated damages to 478 employees.

September 10, 2019

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

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued three new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA). 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:

September 10, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in New York Gas Station Paying $262,151 in Back Wages, Damages and Penalties

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), E-Z Station Inc. - operator of a Mobil gas station in Long Island City, New York - has paid seven employees $129,722 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $2,706 in penalties.

September 6, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Actions to Assist Americans Impacted By Hurricane Dorian

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced actions it is taking to assist Americans in states affected by Hurricane Dorian.

"The U.S. Department of Labor is actively engaged in Administration-wide efforts to help those impacted by Hurricane Dorian," said Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella. "As Americans from across the country rally to help each other, the Department of Labor is committed to supporting recovery efforts."

U.S. Department of Labor actions taken regarding Hurricane Dorian include the following:

September 5, 2019

Nursing Care Facilities Pay $261,418 in Back Wages, Penalties, and Damages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

PROVIDENCE, RI – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, three Rhode Island nursing care facilities have paid $192,622 in back wages and liquidated damages to 89 employees to resolve violations of the overtime and minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The facilities also paid $68,796 in civil penalties, while their parent company has agreed to FLSA compliance at all its locations.

August 28, 2019

Mississippi Healthcare Provider to Pay $147,622 in Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Overtime Violations

PICAYUNE, MS – Maxem Health Urgent Care will pay $147,622 in wages to 16 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the operator of two Mississippi health care facilities violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

August 27, 2019

Michigan Landscaping Company Pays $97,286 in Back Wages And $48,241 in Penalties for Violations of H-2B Visa Program

TROY, MI – The U.S. Department of Labor has found Twin Pines Landscaping Inc. – based in Troy, Michigan – in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program. An investigation by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the landscaping company failed to pay overtime, failed to pay required prevailing wages, and offered more favorable employment terms to temporary foreign employees than to U.S. workers.