May 10, 2018

U.S. District Court Orders Utah Drywall Company to Pay $650,000 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties for Willful Labor Law Violations

SPANISH FORK, UT – The U.S. District Court for the District of Utah has ordered Kyco Services LLC and its owner Kyle Morris to pay $550,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 267 employees for willfully violating the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The court also ordered the drywall company to pay $100,000 in civil money penalties.

May 10, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Debars North Carolina Farm Labor Contractor, Assesses $321,400 Penalty for Wage, Worker Protection Violations

STANTONSBURG, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has revoked the farm labor contractor certificate of registration for Marisa Garcia-Pineda and has debarred the contractor for three years because of violations of federal laws related to wages and worker protections. WHD found that Garcia-Pineda owed $195,735 in back wages to 287 employees while working at Ham Farms in Snow Hill, North Carolina. In addition to the farm labor registration revocation and H-2A debarment, WHD also assessed the company a civil money penalty of $321,400.

May 10, 2018

After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation, Tennessee Auto Dealership Pays $58,739 in Back Wages

KINGSPORT, TN – Kingsport, Tennessee, automobile dealership Rick Hill Imports Inc. has paid $58,739 in back wages to 20 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated minimum wage and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 9, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Grocery Store Paying $15,264 in Back Wages and Damages to 13 Employees

WINTER GARDEN, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, JJB Food Corp. has paid $15,264 in back wages to 13 employees for violating minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also assessed the Winter Garden, Florida, grocery store a civil penalty of $1,308 for child labor violations.

May 8, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $125,348 for 14 Employees Of Connecticut Company Working on Federal Construction Contracts

HARTFORD, CT – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has resulted in the payment of $125,348 in back wages to 14 employees of Gilliam Co. LLC who performed hangar renovation work in Massachusetts, at the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Bourne and at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield.

May 8, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Contractor To Pay $95,000 in Back Wages to 12 Employees for Service Contract Act Violation

ELIZABETH CITY, NC – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation,  Huntsville, Alabama, aviation maintenance company Y-Tech Services Inc. will pay $95,000 in back wages to 12 employees for failure to pay prevailing wage rates required for work performed under a federal contract for the U.S. Coast Guard in Elizabeth City.

May 8, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Discount Retailer Paying $273,254 to 125 Employees in 39 Arizona Stores to Resolve Violations

PHOENIX, AZ – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, California-based discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores LLC will pay $273,254 to 125 employees in 39 of its Arizona stores for wage and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 8, 2018

CORRECTED: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DEBARS FLORIDA FARM LABOR CONTRACTOR FOR VIOLATING H-2A PROVISIONS, ASSESSES $15,153 PENALTY

RALEIGH, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has debarred the Lake Placid, Florida, company Vasquez Citrus & Hauling Inc. and Juan Vasquez, an H-2A farm labor contractor, from applying for H-2A certification for a period of three years for violations of the program’s provisions. WHD also issued the company a civil money penalty of $15,153.

May 7, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Protects American Workers With H-2A, H-2B Tools in Four States

ATLANTA, GA – To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is undertaking an initiative in Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2A and H-2B temporary visa programs.

May 4, 2018

Court Orders Massachusetts Restaurant to Pay $15,000 to Employee Fired in Connection With U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a consent judgment requiring Kyoto Restaurant of Medford LLC and owner Phong Nguyen to pay a total of $15,000 in lost wages and punitive and liquidated damages to a former employee who, the U.S. Department of Labor charged, was terminated for cooperating with a Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation in 2016 and 2017.

May 4, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Offer Wage Seminar in Richmond

RICHMOND, VA – In keeping with its mission to protect the American workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor will hold a seminar on Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in Richmond on May 16. Hosted by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division, the event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. at the Federal Office Building on 400 N. 8th St. Admission is free.

May 2, 2018

New Hampshire Man Sentenced for Obstruction Of Justice In Connection With U.S. Department Of Labor Wage and Hour Investigations and Lawsuit

CONCORD, NH – The U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire has sentenced Kevin Corriveau, owner and operator of Kevin Corriveau Painting Inc. of Nashua, to six months imprisonment; two years of supervised release, post-imprisonment; and a $25,000 criminal fine for one count of obstruction of justice.

May 1, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Court Ordering Commercial Laundry to Pay $478,538 in Back Wages and Damages

LANSDOWNE, PA – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has ordered Central Laundry Inc., owner George Rengepes and business operator Jimmy Rengepes to pay $239,269 in back wages, and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 21 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

May 1, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in USPS Contractor Paying Employees $649,996 to Resolve Federal Contract Violations

WEST COVINA, CA – United States Auto Club Inc. (USAC), a Texas-based emergency roadside assistance provider for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), will pay $649,996 to 29 employees for violations of federal contract provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD). WHD determined that USAC owes the employees $377,512 in unpaid prevailing wages and $165,116 in required health and welfare benefits.

May 1, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Recovers $173,044 in Wages For 12 Technology Employees Due to Violations of the H-1B Visa Program

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – IT employer Cloudwick Technologies Inc., based in Newark, California, will pay $173,044 to 12 employees for violations of the federal H-1B foreign labor certification program after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).

May 1, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Arkansas Staffing Company Paying $708,922 in Back Wages for Labor Law Violations Affecting Disaster Recovery Employees in Louisiana

LEACHVILLE, AR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Arkansas staff sourcing company Wallace, Rush, Schmidt Inc. (WRS) has paid $708,922 to settle overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 1, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Federal Court Finding Michigan Health Department and Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital Violated Family and Medical Leave Act

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – In a summary judgment, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court in Western Michigan has found the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital interfered with an employee’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitlements and retaliated against him for taking protected leave. U.S. District Judge Paul L.

April 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgments Against Grower and Recruiting Agents for Endangering Workers’ Lives in Housing Encampment

PHOENIX, AZ – After a June 2017 U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found 69 Mexican guest workers living in a life-threatening housing encampment at an El Mirage farm, the U.S. District Court of Arizona in Phoenix has entered judgments against a grower and its recruiting agents for violations of the H-2A guest worker program.

April 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Automotive Service Chain Paying $342,926 in Back Wages for Overtime Violations at 100 Midwest Stores

ALLEN PARK, MI – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Michigan-based automotive tire and service retail chain Belle Tire has agreed to pay $342,926 in back wages to 1,207 employees at 100 locations in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.

April 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in General Contractor Paying $137,237 in Back Overtime Wages to 17 employees

 

CLARKSTON, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Summit Properties & Development Co. Inc., based in Clarkston, Michigan, will pay a total of $137,237 in back wages and liquidated damages to 17 employees.

WHD investigators determined the general contractor misclassified some employees as independent contractors, and failed to pay them overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek.