HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Phoenix Renovation Corp. – a plumbing service company based in Honolulu, Hawaii – and its construction subsidiary will collectively pay $134,623 to 93 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the companies a total of $61,163 in civil penalties because of the willful nature of the violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced 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 person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letters issued today are:

FARMERS BRANCH, TX – Attorneys from the Dallas Regional Solicitor office obtained a favorable settlement against an employer for violations of the H-1B provisions of the Immigration and Naturalization Act.  The violations against Joon Beauty Line Corporation include failing to pay wages as required to a H-1B worker, failing to maintain a public access file, and substantially failing to provide notice of the filing of the Labor Contract Agreement at each place of employment where any H-1B worker will be employed.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is hiring 45 new investigators and 15 new wage and hour technicians. Positions are available throughout the country, with new employees expected to onboard by March 31, 2020.

RALEIGH, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), an Athens, Georgia-based disaster relief company will pay $184,838 in wages to 18 employees after an investigation found the company violated federal wage and overtime laws while under contract to provide recovery services in several North Carolina locations in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

BEND, OR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Energy Conservation Insulation Company – an insulation contractor based in Bend, Oregon – will pay $159,027 to 31 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SEATTLE, WA – A California-based security services provider has paid $124,029 in back wages and damages to 30 workers formerly employed as security guards at Amazon’s Seattle Spheres geodesic dome facilities, after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Avalon Hunter Jumpers LLC – a Bay Area horse training facility – will pay $33,034 to seven employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A Bay Area employer providing environmental, labor and social responsibility audits will pay $54,121 in back wages to 10 employees and an additional $5,640 in penalties after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BOISE, ID – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Intermountain Concrete Polishing – a concrete floor polishing company in Meridian, Idaho – will pay $47,676 to four employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MANNING, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Quintanilla Poultry LLC – a poultry catching company based in Manning, South Carolina – has paid $96,782 in back wages to 55 employees for overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN JOSE, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), a 7-Eleven store in Concord, California will pay $42,350 in back wages and liquidated damages to 10 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements.

HOUSTON, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (the Department’s) Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Aquatic Management of Houston Inc., located in Houston, Texas has paid $22,236 in civil money penalties to resolve child labor violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

AMARILLO, TX – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), The Plaza Restaurant – a restaurant chain in Texas – has paid $44,621 in back wages to 570 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements. Additionally, WHD assessed the employer $13,420 in civil money penalties for child labor violations of the FLSA.

AUSTIN, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), U.S. Security Service PLLC in San Marcos, Texas has paid $133,070 to resolve minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MONTGOMERY, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Montgomery Arc and two of its subsidiaries – Hanan Center and McInnis Recycling Center – will pay $541,597 in back wages to 80 employees for failing to meet the requirements of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also found that Hanan Center and McInnis Recycling Center violated requirements of Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act.

COLUMBIA, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Planet Vapor Inc. – an enterprise with five retail stores and a combined laboratory warehouse operating in Columbia, Lexington, West Columbia, and Irmo, South Carolina – has paid $66,410 in back wages and liquidated damages to 20 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

JENISON, MI – The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan has ordered New Image Landscaping LLC and owner Jeremy Cizauskas to pay 32 former employees a total of $118,425 in back wages and damages, after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation. The court affirmed WHD’s findings that the Jenison, Michigan employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by denying landscape employees overtime after misclassifying them as independent contractors. 

MOUNT PLEASANT, PA – Silvis Group Inc. – a Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, landscaping company – has entered consent findings with the U.S. Department of Labor requiring payment of $74,290 in back wages and penalties for violating the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program.

An investigation by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) determined - that from January 17, 2015, to January 7, 2017 - Silvis Group Inc. violated requirements of the H-2B visa program by:

LAS VEGAS, NV – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bonito Michoacan Inc. – a restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada – will pay $212,861 in back wages and liquidated damages to 71 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).