NEW ORLEANS, LA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 9, 2019.

NASHVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has ordered Reynolds Baldwin III – doing business as Copperhead Construction LLC and formerly as Sara-Tech LLC – to pay $501,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 82 employees to resolve violations of the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the Spring Hill, Tennessee-based company $29,000 in civil money penalties.

OMAHA, NE – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, entered a consent judgment ordering China Palace Inc. and owners and operators – Miao Hui Zhang and Jian Zhang – to pay $145,987 in back wages, liquidated damages and interest to eight current and former employees.

MANCHESTER, NH – A Manchester, New Hampshire, enterprise involving a catering business and several cafes – all owned and operated by Keri Laman and Tidewater Hospitality Resources LLC – has paid $86,959 in back wages and liquidated damages for 70 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation identified violations of the overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department also assessed the employers $22,820 in civil penalties due to the willful nature of the violations.

SEATTLE, WA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Oralia Magallanes and Juan Calderon – operators of three Mexican restaurants in North Central Washington – will pay $96,995 to 32 employees for overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LANSDALE, PA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has entered a consent judgment requiring Fox Bindery Inc. – based in Lansdale, Pennsylvania – and owner Henry J. Fox to pay $274,183 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 556 current and former employees. The Department also assessed the employer and its owner a $50,000 civil money penalty due to the willful nature of the violations.

WEST COVINA, CA – Fourteen restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area – operating under five different entities – will pay 100 employees a total of $126,142 after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigations found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NASHVILLE, TN – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, has ordered Hetal Patel Inc., Pankaj and Hetal Patel, and Madhusudhan Naik - operators of the Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine restaurant - to pay $220,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 31 employees at its Nashville, Tennessee, restaurant. The action comes after a U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the resignation of Bryan Jarrett, Acting Administrator for the Wage and Hour Division, effective January 5, 2019.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued two new opinion letters. These letters demonstrate the Department’s commitment to providing meaningful compliance assistance to help employees understand their rights and ensure that employers have the tools they need to comply with federal labor law.

The letters released today address the following compliance issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA):

NEWARK, NJ – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Sinai Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare LLC – a nursing and rehabilitation center in Newark, New Jersey – will pay $130,000 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 174 employees to resolve violations of overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MOUNT HOLLY, NC – Stanton Enterprise Inc. – a McDonald’s franchisee in Mount Holly, North Carolina – has paid a civil penalty of $5,517 following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation that found the fast-food restaurant violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) child labor requirements after a 15-year-old employee suffered a burn to her arm.

DURHAM, NC – Duke Patient Revenue Management Organization - operating as Duke University Health System - has paid an employee $9,066 in lost wages and reinstated the employee after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

NEW YORK, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has ordered the operators of three Queens, New York, hotels to pay $360,543 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 83 employees to resolve violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The operators will also pay $28,914 in civil penalties and $625 in post-judgment interest.

CHICAGO, IL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a federal court has ordered Great Lakes Lumber and Pallet Inc. – based in Chicago, Illinois – and owner David Radzieta to pay $124,370 in overtime wages and liquidated damages to 20 employees for failing to pay overtime wages. The court also ordered the employer to pay $15,120 in civil money penalties for willfully violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NASHVILLE, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has ordered Smiley Dental Associates Inc. – a dental practice based in Nashville, Tennessee – to pay $50,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 10 employees, for violations of minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

EL PASO, TX - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will present an educational forum about developments in its policies and regulations, and its Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program (PAID), in El Paso, Texas, on December 19, 2018.

CHARLESTON, SC – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division, has ordered Señor Tequila Inc. and Señor Tequila of Summerville LLC to pay $279,269 in back wages and liquidated damages to 68 employees at three South Carolina restaurants. The employer was also assessed $52,615 in civil money penalties.

SAVANNAH, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire Inc. – based in Savannah, Georgia – has paid $114,936 in back wages to 165 employees for violating provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PHOENIX, AZ – A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that Yuma Regional Medical Center – based in Yuma, Arizona – failed to provide adequate breaks and accommodations for nursing mothers attempting to express breast milk while on the job, violating the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).