November 29, 2012

US Labor Department sues Dallas-based The Christmas Light Co. to secure more than $240,000 in minimum and overtime back wages

DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against The Christmas Light Co. Inc. and owner William F. Rathburn to recover approximately $240,881 in wages and an additional amount in liquidated damages on behalf of 233 employers who installed and removed lights for the company. An investigation in Dallas by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay 233 installers and removers the minimum and overtime wages required by law.

November 28, 2012

US Labor Department sues Boston Hides & Furs Ltd., seeking at least $1 million in back wages and damages for underpaid, wrongfully fired workers

Chelsea, Mass., business also assessed $100,000 penalty for willful labor violations

BOSTON — Citing "knowing, deliberate and intentional" violations of federal wage and hour law, the U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Boston Hides & Furs Ltd. and company officials seeking at least $500,000 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for underpaid employees of the Chelsea wholesale animal hide business.

November 27, 2012

San Francisco-based bank pays more than $1 million in overtime back wages to employees in 5 states following US Labor Department investigation

First Republic Bank misclassified 392 workers as exempt from overtime pay

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $1,009,643.93 in overtime back wages for 392 First Republic Bank employees in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon. An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that the San Francisco-based bank wrongly classified the employees as exempt from overtime, resulting in violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and record-keeping provisions.

November 26, 2012

US Department of Labor sues Los Arcos Mexican Grill & Seafood in Tennessee to recover unpaid minimum and overtime wages for 70 employees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Los Arcos Seafood & Grill Inc., doing business as Los Arcos Mexican Grill & Seafood in Nashville, and its owners, Jose Gutierrez Jr. and Martin Romo, for allegedly violating the Fair Labor Standards Act. The department is seeking $227,366 in back wages plus an equal amount in liquidated damages for 70 employees.

November 20, 2012

Dos Taquitos Mexican Restaurant in Raleigh, NC, to pay more than $48,000 in back wages to 26 employees following US Labor Department investigation

RALEIGH, N.C. — Dos Taquitos Mexican Restaurant in Raleigh has agreed to pay 26 employees $48,125 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime, child labor and record-keeping provisions.

November 20, 2012

RJ Concrete in Fuquay-Varina, NC, to pay 12 employees nearly $38,000 in back wages following US Labor Department investigatio

Fuquay-Varina, N.C. — RJ Concrete Inc. of Fuquay-Varina has agreed to pay 12 current and former employees $37,783 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that identified violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and record-keeping provisions. RJ Concrete is a contractor engaged in the construction of residential basements.

November 18, 2012

WHD News Release: US Labor Department signs agreements with NY Labor Department and NY Attorney General's Office to reduce misclassification of employees [11/18/2012]

WASHINGTON — Officials of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, the New York State Labor Department and the New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman's Office today signed memoranda of understanding to protect the rights of employees by preventing their misclassification as independent contractors or other nonemployee statuses.

November 18, 2012

WHD News Release: US Labor Department signs agreements with NY Labor Department and NY Attorney General's Office to reduce misclassification of employees [11/18/2012]

WHD Worker Misclssification website

WASHINGTON — Officials of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, the New York State Labor Department and the New York State Attorney General Eric T.

November 15, 2012

DOL recovers more than $787,000 in back wages for 124 workers following investigations at Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tenn.

Investigations find contractors on federally funded project violated Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act

November 15, 2012

Panaderia Chuy Bakery in Austin, Texas, pays $244,770 in minimum, overtime back wages to workers following US Labor Department investigation

AUSTIN, Texas — Los Poblanitos LLC, doing business as Panaderia Chuy Bakery, has paid a total of $244,770 in back wages owed to 101 restaurant and bakery employees at two of the company's locations in Austin. The unpaid wages resulted from violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions that were uncovered during an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

October 25, 2012

US Labor Department seeks enforcement of subpoena issued to Forever 21

Recent investigation reveals evidence of wage violations among Forever 21 apparel contractors and manufacturer

October 23, 2012

Arvada, Colo., manufacturing company pays nearly $40,000 in back wages, liquidated damages following US Labor Department investigation

ARVADA, Colo. — Colorado Precision Machining Inc. has paid a total of $39,082 in back wages and liquidated damages to 10 machinists, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions.

October 23, 2012

Dominos Pizza franchisee pays 401 employees at 19 Florida locations more than $370,000 in back wages following US Labor Department investigation

MIAMI — Melbourne-based PDQ Pizza, doing business as Domino's Pizza, has paid 401 employees $371,675 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, which found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime, minimum wage and record-keeping provisions. The franchisee has 19 locations in Palm Beach, Indian River and Brevard counties.

October 17, 2012

US Labor Department complaint seeks back wages plus damages for underpaid workers at 3 El Rancho Grande restaurants in Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint in U.S. district court in Dayton seeking to recover back wages and damages for workers at three El Rancho Grande restaurants in Ohio. An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division determined that the restaurants, as well as co-owners Francisco Magana and Juan Hernandez, violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay workers proper minimum wage and overtime compensation.

October 17, 2012

Landscapers employed by Texas company to receive nearly $107,000 in minimum, overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation

MIDLAND, Texas — Turf Specialties Inc. has agreed to pay $106,818 in back wages to 70 current and former landscape workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum and overtime provisions.

October 15, 2012

South Carolina restaurants agree to pay 85 employees nearly $486,000 in back wages following US Labor Department investigations

Investigations conducted as part of ongoing enforcement initiative in South Carolina's restaurant industry

October 10, 2012

Denver-based child care provider Crme de la Crme pays more than $41,000 in back wages to workers following US Labor Department investigations

Wage and Hour Division finds systemic labor violations at 21 day care centers in 8 states

September 24, 2012

US Labor Department settles lawsuit against Hao Hao Inc. in Austin, Texas, recovering more than $70,000 in back wages for 10 employees

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor has settled a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division against Hao Hao Inc., doing business as Hao Hao Restaurant, in Austin, and its owner Kevin Quach, for violations of the minimum wage, overtime and child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company and Quach have agreed to pay more than $70,000 owed to 10 current and former kitchen staff and servers.

September 4, 2012

Nebraska auction company assessed more than $46,000 in penalties for child labor violations after underage worker suffers serious injury while herding cattle

VALENTINE, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Labor has assessed a total of $46,602 in civil money penalties against Valentine Livestock Auction Co. in Nebraska after a 15-year-old employee was crushed against a metal gate by a stampeding calf while herding cattle in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor provisions.