ST. MICHAEL, Minn. – A central Minnesota sheet metal fabricator has paid $85,617 in back wages and an additional equal amount in liquidated damages totaling $171,234 to 43 workers. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined the company violated the overtime provisions of Fair Labor Standards Act by “banking” overtime hours instead of paying for that time at legally-required time and a half.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Imagine having to pay your restaurant employer to be able to work there.

That’s what U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division investigators found at two popular Sophia’s House of Pancakes restaurants in Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor where servers were required to pay $2 an hour from their tips to their employer. Investigators also found that Peter Philis, who runs the Benton Harbor location, discriminated against a server, claiming that she reported violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act to the Labor Department.

HORTONVILLE, Wis. – A Wisconsin industrial cleaning contractor failed to pay workers for all their time spent loading trucks and driving to job sites, resulting in violations of the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, Mid Valley Industrial Services Inc.

Employers: HSC Hilo LLC, doing business as Hawaiian Style Café Hilo; and Bajcka LLC, doing business as Hawaiian Style Café Waimea

Sites: 681 Manono St #101, Hilo, HI; and 65-1290 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI   

Employers: Alfonso’s Carniceria, Inc., doing business as Alfonso’s Meat Market

Site: 2756 Whitson St., Selma, California

SEATTLE – After years of denial, obstructions and legal battles, a group of Washington State blueberry growers admitted that they systematically violated the rights of their agricultural workers, including failing to pay the minimum wage and overtime pay, in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 growing seasons.

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has launched an education and enforcement initiative on the West Coast and in surrounding areas aimed at ensuring workers at fast food establishments are being paid the proper minimum wage and overtime.

Employer: PR Drywall LLC

Site: 2730 SE 39th Loop Suite E, Hillsboro, Oregon

Employer: C&C Security Inc., doing business as Cast and Crew Security

Site: 438 Hobron Lane #117, Honolulu, HI 96815

ATLANTA – Hotel industry workers typically earn low wages and may struggle financially to meet basic needs. When employers fail to pay them the wages they have legally earned, their struggle gets even harder.

LOS ANGELES – While Southern California Sushi chefs worked up to 90 hours a week painstakingly assembling intricately crafted Godzilla rolls, sashimi assortments and other delicacies at various restaurants, the U.S. Department of Labor found their employer was cheating the chefs and other workers out of overtime pay, shaving hours off timecards and docking their pay routinely for 10-minute breaks.

Employer: Escalera Landscaping Inc.

Site: 5012 Arville Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89118

CHICAGO – A federal judge has ordered a Chicago limo company to pay 34 drivers $190,716 in back wages and an equal additional amount in liquidated damages, totaling $381,432, after finding the company violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Employer: Chloe Apparel, Inc.

Site: 1143 East 29^th St., Los Angeles, California

Investigation findings: The employer paid straight time for overtime hours worked after 40 hours in a work week. The employer also failed to pay the proper minimum wage to a subset of workers. Both sets of violations fall under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Employer: Humanage Acquisitions LLC, doing business as Riverbend Hand Car Wash

Site: 22290 La Palma Avenue, Yorba Linda, California 92887

Date of Action: Dec. 3, 2015

Type of Action: Lawsuit filing

Name of Defendant: Platform Marine Inc., 3431 FM 1685, Victoria, Texas

Employer name: Today’s Generation LLC, doing business as Jaws Shirts & Gifts

Investigation site: 3535 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Employer name: Elk Springs Resort Cabin Rentals LLC  

Investigation site: 1088 Powdermill Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

TULSA, Okla. – A federal judge in Tulsa overturned a jury verdict and ruled that El Tequila LLC and owner Carlos Aguirre willfully violated the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. El Tequila and Aguirre must pay $2.1 million in back wages and liquidated damages to over 300 vulnerable workers.

Employers: St. James Home for the Elderly, Inc.

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