September 17, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Labor Department investigation finds North Carolina restaurant fails to pay workers minimum wage and overtime [09/17/2015]

Employer name: Fiesta Mexicana LLC, Fiesta Mexicana Restaurante

Investigation site: 957 Town Centre Blvd, Clayton, North Carolina 27520

September 16, 2015

WHD News Brief: Judge orders staffing company to pay $10K in back wages, damages to worker fired for seeking time off under Family and Medical Leave Act [09/16/2015]

Type of Action: Family Medical Leave Act Consent Judgment

Names of Defendants: Management Registry, Inc. doing business as Malone Staffing

September 14, 2015

WHD News Release: Hiep Thai Markets pays more than $416K in back wages to workers following US Labor Department investigation [09/14/2015]

DALLAS — Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division made sure to keep their eyes on the back door when they showed up at Hiep Thai Markets' stores in Garland and Arlington. The business, a repeat violator of federal wage and hour laws, had sent workers out the rear exit previously to keep them from speaking to agents during two prior investigations. Cheating workers out of wages and frustrating investigators seems to be their business practice.

September 9, 2015

WHD News Brief: ResCare Inc. subsidiary in West Virginia ordered to pay nearly $280K in back wages and damages after US Labor Department investigation [09/09/2015]

Employer Name: RSCR West Virginia Inc., doing business as Community Alternatives WV, is a subsidiary of ResCare Inc. that provides home health care for individuals with disabilities throughout West Virginia.

Investigation Site: 305 Water Street, Stonewood, West Virginia, 26301 and locations in Clarksburg, Keyser, Parkersburg, Buckhannon, Huntington, and Charleston, West Virginia.

September 9, 2015

WHD News Release: US Labor Department sues FLDS Church, others for oppressive child labor and other violations; seeks to enforce $1.9M in penalties [09/09/2015]

SALT LAKE CITY — For most children, fall begins a new school year full of possibilities to learn and prepare for their lives ahead and future jobs. Unfortunately, for hundreds of children in southern Utah and northern Arizona, the season is a time for hard work harvesting pecans by hand for commercial sale.

September 9, 2015

WHD News Release: Produce wholesaler to pay workers more than $130K in back wages, damages, penalties after US Labor Department investigation [09/09/2015]

BOSTON — Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Snipped Fresh Produce Inc. had employees cut, weigh and package vegetables for $8 per hour, and many worked more than 40 hours per week for no overtime pay.

September 4, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Department of Labor signs agreement with Hawaii's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to protect workers from misclassification [09/04/2015]

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and the State of Hawaii's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

September 3, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Labor Department sues private investigative agency for unpaid wages plus additional damages [09/03/2015]

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act Lawsuit

Name of Defendant: Confidential Services Inc., Beverlee Sokol, and Katrina Levy Zidel

September 3, 2015

WHD News Brief: Judge orders RV dealership to pay more than $11K in back wages, damages to 2 recreational vehicle technicians in Coloma, Michigan [09/03/2015]

Date of Action: Aug. 19, 2015

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act Consent Judgment

Names of Defendants: Krenek Motors Inc., d/b/a Krenek RV and Scott Krenek

Resolution: A judge has ordered Krenek RV and its owner, Scott Krenek, to pay two recreational vehicle technicians a total of $11,478 in unpaid overtime compensation and damages.

September 1, 2015

WHD News Brief: Charanda Mexican Grill & Cantina in Concord and Statesville, North Carolina, pays 13 workers over $104K in back wages [09/1/2015]

Employer name: Charanda of Concord Inc. and Charanda, Inc., doing business as Charanda Mexican Grill & Cantina

Investigation site: 8629 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, North Carolina 28027 and 1841 E. Broad Street, Statesville, North Carolina 28625

August 27, 2015

WHD News Release: US Air Force drone and surveillance system contractor pays nearly $1M in back wages to 900 employees across the country [08/27/2015]

US Department of Labor finds General Atomics violated federal wage requirement

SAN DIEGO — Federal law requires government contractors to pay their workers the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits in their geographic area. On the books for half a century, the law ensures that companies do not make their services less costly at the expense of their workers, or drive down wages for other area workers.

August 26, 2015

WHD News Brief: Chandler medical transportation company to pay more than $121K in back wages to more than 50 drivers after US Labor Department investigation [08/26/2015]

Employer: Z-Best Medical Transportation, LLC

Site: 1505 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler, Arizona 85224

August 21, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Department of Labor files suit alleging restaurant classified some employees as volunteers [08/21/2015]

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act Lawsuit

Name of Defendant: Cathedral Buffet Inc., and Ernest Angley, 2690 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

August 18, 2015

WHD News Release: Puerto Rico Coffee Roasters owes nearly $68K in back wages, damages and penalties after US Labor Department investigation [08/18/2015]

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico — If you live in Puerto Rico, the coffee you drink was likely harvested, packed and shipped by workers who toil long hours daily, but who don't always receive the pay to which they are entitled.

August 18, 2015

WHD News Release: California court rulings send clear message to employers who misclassify workers as 'independent contractors' [08/18/2015]

SAN FRANCISCO — Two recent and very significant legal victories for California workers send a strong message to employers nationwide: if you misclassify your employees, you will face the consequences.

August 18, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Alabama trucking company misclassified workers as independent contractors [08/18/2015]

Employer to pay 63 employees nearly $113K in back wages and damages following Labor Department investigation

Employer name: Fitzhugh Contracting LLC

Investigation site: 30513 Highway 43 South, Gallion, Alabama 36742

August 17, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Department of Labor recovers $176K in wages, damages for
76 nurses employed by Michigan's Friends Who Care
[08/17/2015]

Type of Action: Consent Judgment

Name of Defendant: Friends Who Care Inc., Gayle Busselle

Resolution: A total of 76 current and former nurses employed by Friends Who Care Inc. are receiving $176,228 in back wages and liquidated damages under terms of a Consent Judgment entered in federal court in Flint, Michigan, Aug. 14.