Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
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U.S. Department of Labor |
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US Labor Department seeks back wages and liquidated damages plus penalties from Troy, Mich.-based business for willful violations of federal wage law
TROY, Mich. -- The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint in federal district court in Detroit, Mich., against H&H Wholesale Services Inc., located in Troy, as well as owner and president Howard B. Goldman, alleging violations of the minimum wage, overtime pay and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The department’s Wage and Hour Division investigated and found that, since October 2006, H&H Wholesale Services Inc. has repeatedly and willfully violated the FLSA by failing to pay 37 employees the federally required time and one-half their regular rates of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 per week and for not paying the required minimum wage to one employee.
The Labor Department seeks $42,622 in back wages and liquidated damages, and also has assessed $21,622 in civil penalties for repeated and willful violations of the FLSA.
“Employers should know that the Labor Department will not hesitate to take legal action to recover back wages owed employees,” said James Smith, director of the Wage and Hour Division’s district office in Detroit. “The department also will seek significant civil penalties against willful and repeat offenders.”
In addition to paying employees the federal minimum wage for all hours worked, and time and one-half their regular rates of pay for hours worked over 40 in a week unless an employee is exempt from overtime pay, the FLSA requires that employers maintain accurate time and payroll records.
The federal minimum wage for covered, nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour. For more information about the FLSA, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/whd.
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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.
