U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Leads to $70,341 in Back Wages For 82 Employees at Miami TV Production Company

MIAMI, FL – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has found Endemol Latino NA, a TV production company in Miami, owes $70,341 in back wages to 82 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Endemol Latino NA, which does business as Endemol Shine North America, will pay the back wages after WHD investigators determined the company was in violation for inaccurately classifying some employees as salaried exempt, resulting in Endemol Latino NA paying them a flat salary without additional overtime compensation when they worked more than 40 hours per week. Additionally, Endemol Latino NA failed to pay other employees for all hours worked resulting in additional time-and-one-half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The company also failed to maintain the required records of hours worked.

“Employers must understand their obligations and responsibilities under the law. Simply because a pay practice may appear to be common does not, in any way, mean that it complies with the law,” said Tony Pham, Wage and Hour Division District Director in Miami. “The U.S. Department of Labor encourages all employers to make use of the many tools it provides to help them understand and comply with the law, and to call us for assistance.”

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the Division.