August 9, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Restaurant Paying $28,998 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties for Wage Violations

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.

August 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Three New Wage and Hour Opinion Letters

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.

August 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $271,240 for Employees at Tennessee Restaurant After Investigation Finds Wage and Child Labor Violations

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.

August 8, 2019

Tennessee Restaurants Pay $83,013 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Wage and Child Labor Violations

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.

August 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Finds North Carolina Peanut Manufacturer Violated Federal Wage and Child Labor Laws

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.

August 8, 2019

Kentucky Contractor to Pay $92,979 for Wages Violations Found in U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

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).

August 8, 2019

South Carolina Ambulance Service Pays $212,493 in Wages To Employees to Resolve Federal Overtime 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).

August 7, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Seeks Public Comment on Changes To Family and Medical Leave Act Forms

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).

August 5, 2019

Brownsville Restaurants Pay $78,440 in Back Wages, Damages To Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Investigations

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.

August 5, 2019

Best Western Hotel in Tennessee Pays $63,419 in Back Wages, Damages, And Penalties after U.S. Department of Labor Finds Wage Violations

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.

August 5, 2019

CORRECTED: U.S. Department of Labor Finds South Carolina Resort Violated Federal Work Visa Program Requirements by Failing to Hire Qualified U.S. Worker

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.

August 2, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigations Result in Ohio Home Health Care Providers Paying $194,811 in Overtime Back Wages to 62 Employees

CINCINNATI, OH – Two Cincinnati, Ohio, home healthcare providers – Millenium Nursing Agency LTD and Residential Homecare Services LLC – will pay $194,811 in back wages to 62 employees after investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employers violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime and recordkeeping provisions.                                                        

August 2, 2019

San Francisco East Bay Restaurant Pays $172,862 to 14 Employees For Overtime Violations Found by U.S. Department of Labor

SAN JOSE, CA – New Thai Bistro – a restaurant based in Pleasanton, California – has paid $172,862 to 14 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). Due to the willful nature of the violations found, the Department also assessed $1,974 in civil money penalties.

August 2, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Georgia Supermarket Paying $47,115 Civil Penalty for Child Labor Violations

JONESBORO, GA – Tienda Y Carniceria La Unica 2 Inc. – a supermarket based in Jonesboro, Georgia – has paid a civil penalty of $47,115 after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer allowed a 16-year-old minor employee to use a power-driven meat-slicing machine in violation of federal law. The minor suffered the amputation of one finger and severe injury to another.

August 1, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor to Offer Compliance Seminar In Washington, DC, on Prevailing Wage Requirements

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a compliance seminar in Washington, D.C., for contractors, unions, workers, and other interested parties to provide information on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements. The event will offer training on labor standards for federally funded construction and federal service contracts.

WHAT: Wage and Hour Division Prevailing Wage Seminar

WHEN: August 13-15, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT

August 1, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Bay Area Janitorial Company Paying Employees $450,584

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Bay Area Contract Maintenance – a janitorial company based in San Francisco, California – will pay $450,548 in back wages to 65 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

July 30, 2019

Oklahoma Power Line Repair Company Pays $62,263 in Back Wages, Damages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Overtime Violations

SHARON, OK – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Custom Energy Service Inc. – a power line repair company based in Sharon, Oklahoma – has paid $62,263 in back wages and liquidated damages to 11 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime requirements.

July 29, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor to Offer Compliance Assistance Sessions in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Federal Wage and Hour Laws

FAIRBANKS, AK - The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer two compliance assistance and educational outreach sessions in Fairbanks, Alaska, for employers, employees, their representatives, and other parties seeking assistance and guidance about federal wage and hour laws.

The Fairbanks compliance assistance events will begin with an introduction and an overview of WHD's mission, responsibilities, and functions. Attendance is free but space is limited.

July 29, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Fines Construction Employer For Violating Federal H-2B Visa Program Rules

LAKE VILLAGE, AR – Following a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Gonzalez Rebar LLC – based in Lake Village, Arkansas – has paid $20,312 in civil money penalties to settle H-2B non-immigrant visa program violations.

July 26, 2019

Federal Court Orders Farm Labor Contractor to Pay Penalties, Improve Practices for Role in Fatal Crash

SAN DIEGO, CA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has entered a consent judgment requiring Healthy Harvesting Inc. and Fernando Pineda Garcia to pay $79,153 in civil penalties for violations of the Migrant Seasonal Workers Protection Act (MSPA). The action stems from a vehicle accident where a van overturned, killing one worker and injuring six others in March 2017, near Calexico, California.