LYON STATION, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against a Berks County battery manufacturer after an investigation found overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).   

FOLEY, AL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama has ordered Riviera Stoneworks Inc., Hood’s Discount Home Center of Foley Inc., and Michael J. Hood, the operator of both companies, to pay $28,307 in back wages and liquidated damages to 28 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

RINGOES, NJ - After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Mavrode Farms LLC—a Ringoes, New Jersey, wholesale florist supplier—has paid $76,374 to 13 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Division also assessed civil money penalties totaling $2,633 for the violations.

ATLANTA, GA – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, two Marietta-based hotels have paid $73,732 in back wages and liquidated damages to 14 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

GUAYNABO, PR – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division will be on St. Croix and St. Thomas through March 21 to investigate wage issues and provide compliance assistance related to work done in connection with recovery efforts following Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

HUNTSVILLE, AL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, a Huntsville, Alabama, security company and two subcontractors will pay $1,184,722 in back wages to 236 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found the companies violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Service Contract Act (SCA), and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA).

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is conducting a survey of wages paid to workers in 74 metropolitan Georgia counties on all active building and heavy construction projects to establish prevailing wage rates required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA).

HOUSTON, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, a Houston-based pool construction company, South Bay Gunite Inc., will pay $115,786 in back wages to 68 employees to resolve violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor is announcing a new pilot program, the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which expedites resolution of inadvertent overtime and minimum wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The PAID program will ensure that more employees receive back wages they are owed—faster.  Employees will receive 100 percent of the back wages paid, without having to pay any litigation expenses, attorneys’ fees, or other costs that may be applicable to private actions. 

HONOLULU, HI – The U.S. Department of Labor has finalized a series of settlements with contractors on Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that will pay a collective $13.9 million in back wages and damages to thousands of employees who came from China to build the Saipan Casino and Hotel on the island.

SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against a northern Washington berry farm for violating the labor provisions of the H-2A visa program. Sakuma Brothers Farms Inc. and the Washington State Farm Labor Association have been assessed $124,575 in civil money penalties and an additional $9,599 for failing to pay back wages to an eligible U.S. worker who was not hired and to workers who drove the buses that transported workers to the farm.

NEWARK, NJ – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, AWAB Transport Inc., a Newark medical transportation company, will pay $77,202 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 38 employees to resolve violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MEMPHIS, TN – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Empire Packing LP, a Memphis meat cutting and packing company, will pay $127,830 in back wages and liquidated damages to 272 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

KIHEI, HI – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Piilani Gardens LLC, based in Kihei will pay $84,136 in overtime back wages to 22 employees performing maintenance and landscaping activities on Maui to resolve federal overtime pay and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ESTILL SPRINGS, TN – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Tinsley Asphalt LLC, a Tennessee paving company, will pay $77,467 in back wages to 43 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SOLEDAD, CA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Future Ag Management Inc. – a Soledad, California-based farm labor contractor – will pay $168,082 in penalties to resolve Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) violations that posed a direct and imminent threat to its employees. 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Fort Lauderdale window and door installation contractor ADCO Installers LLC will pay $103,608 in back wages to 35 employees. WHD investigators found the employer violated overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Investigators determined ADCO Installers LLC paid employees straight-time rates, instead of the required time-and-one-half, for hours they worked over 40 in a work week.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), WM Limited Partnership-1998, a Grand Rapids-based franchisee of 53 Wendy’s Restaurants, has paid $258,249 in civil money penalties for child labor violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at all 53 of its Michigan restaurants.

BOSTON, MA – In connection with a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the owners of several Boston, Massachusetts, pizza restaurants have agreed to a preliminary order enjoining them from retaliating against employees or former employees, and from instructing employees not to speak with or to lie to U.S. Department of Labor investigators.

MIAMI, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Cartagena’s Inc., a Miami-based commercial aircraft paint contractor, will pay $54,704 in back wages to 31 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).