FLATWOODS, KY – 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 Kentucky has sentenced Michael Anthony Wheeler – owner of Tri-State Lawn Care Inc. operating in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia – to serve five years on unsupervised probation and ordered him to pay $327,087 in back wages to 17 employees for violating requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the H-2A visa program.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting an online dialogue to help employers and nursing mothers understand their rights and responsibilities under the law. The Supporting Nursing Mothers in the Workplace dialogue will also solicit best practices to educate nursing mothers about key protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employers, nursing mothers, state and local policymakers, and other interested people can participate through Friday, August 23, 2019.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Michael Andoniades – the owner of five St. Petersburg, Florida, hotels – has paid $23,368 in back wages and liquidated damages to 30 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The five St. Petersburg hotels involved in the investigation are:

PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a settlement reached with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Havpak Inc. will pay $158,230 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 126 employees after a WHD investigation found overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at its facilities in King of Prussia and Malvern, Pennsylvania. The Erie, Pennsylvania-based packaging, assembly, and manufacturing employer will also pay a civil money penalty of $41,580 for the willfulness of the violations.

PITTSBURGH, PA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Huwa Enterprises – an environmental restoration company based in Keenesburg, Colorado – paid $9,174 in back wages, and an equal amount in liquidated damages for violating the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) while performing reclamation services on pipelines in western Pennsylvania.

SYRACUSE, NY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), GV Foods Inc. has paid $92,007 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 103 current and former employees at its Syracuse, New York, restaurants – Peppino’s Neapolitan Express, Honey Cafe, and Peppino’s Pizzeria. The investigation found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LOS ANGELES, CA – Barbara Batiste – a desserts and catering business owner in Los Angeles, California – will pay $58,695 to 27 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

COOPER CITY, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), South China Restaurant – based in Cooper City, Florida – will pay $88,074 in wages to eight employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lallos441 LLC – the operator of Lallos Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – has paid $17,443 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $11,555 in civil money penalties for the willful nature of the violations.

DUNEDIN, FL – Falzon Management Corp. – a restaurant operating as Kelly’s Chic-a-Boom Room in Dunedin, Florida – has paid $17,266 in back wages and liquidated damages to 48 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

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) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). 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.

SEVERN, NC - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Severn Peanut Co. Inc. – a peanut manufacturer based in Severn, North Carolina – has paid $82,820 in back wages and liquidated damages to 100 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil penalty of $3,619 for federal child labor violations.

HANAHAN, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), MedTrust Medical Transport LLC – a private ambulance service provider based in Hanahan, South Carolina –  has paid $212,493 in back wages to 89 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NASHVILLE, TN - A Nashville, Tennessee-based restaurant enterprise has paid $62,781 in back wages and liquidated damages to 56 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer is also paying a civil penalty of $20,232 for the repeat nature of the wage violations, and for federal child labor violations.

LOUISVILLE, KY – Following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Henson Construction LLC – a commercial contractor based in Louisville, Kentucky – will pay $92,979 in back wages to 10 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

COOKEVILLE, TN - Fiesta Cancun Grill Inc. – a restaurant in Cookeville, Tennessee – has paid $271,240 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid a civil penalty of $1,451 for federal child labor violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a 60-day period for public comment on proposed revisions to optional use forms that the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) provides for public use in the administration of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

JOHNSON CITY, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), S&S Hospitality LLC – operator of the Best Western Hotel & Conference Center in Johnson City, Tennessee – has paid $56,999 in back wages and liquidated damages to 15 employees for violating the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $6,420 in civil money penalties for the willful and repeat nature of the violations.

BLUFFTON, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Montage Hotels & Resorts LLC – operating as Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina – has paid $8,301 in wages to an employee for violating labor provisions of the H-2B visa program. The Laguna Beach, California-based employer also paid a civil penalty of $8,301 assessed by WHD for the violation.

BROWNSVILLE, TX – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) at three Brownsville, Texas, restaurants have led Chavez All Natural Inc. – operating as 100% Natural – to pay $39,220 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 25 employees for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements.