May 14, 2019

Federal Ruling Issued Against Kentucky Tobacco Farmer after U.S. Department of Labor Finds Wage and Visa Program Violations

LEBANON, KY – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) has issued a decision against James L. Brady Sr. – a tobacco farmer based in Lebanon, Kentucky – after an investigation by the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found he violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), and the H-2A visa program.

May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Three San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants Paying $243,086 to Resolve Wage Violations

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A restaurant enterprise with three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area will pay $224,465 in back wages to 25 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employers willfully violated the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed the enterprise $18,621 in civil penalties for the willful nature of the violations, and for a child labor recordkeeping violation.

May 14, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Silicon Valley Company Paying $942,548 in Back Wages, Damages, and Penalties

SAN JOSE, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Yaana Technologies – a Silicon Valley data collection services company based in Milpitas, California – will pay $910,878 in back wages and liquidated damages to 34 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed $31,670 in civil penalties because of the repeat nature of the violations found.

May 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $342,334 After Investigation Finds Virginia Company Violated Contract

RALEIGH, NC - Kingfisher Systems Inc. – a federal contractor that provides information technology support at two North Carolina military installations, and based in Falls Church, Virginia – has paid $342,334 in wages and fringe benefits to 45 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

May 13, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Auto Repair Shop Paying $35,542 in Back Wages, Damages and Penalties

WEST MIFFLIN, PA - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Leschak Automotive Inc. – an auto repair shop based in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania – has paid $15,445 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 10 employees to resolve violations of federal overtime requirements. WHD also assessed a $4,652 civil money penalty due to the willful nature of the violation.

May 10, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Oregon Construction Contractor Paying $98,461 to 51 Employees to Resolve Overtime Violations

PORTLAND, OR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), TT& L Sheet Metal Inc. – based in Beaverton, Oregon – will pay $98,461 in back wages to 51 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Conducting Wage Survey of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Construction Projects

GUAYNABO, PR – The U. S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a survey of all building, highway, residential, and heavy construction projects active in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico that occurred between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. The purpose to establish prevailing wage rates as required under the Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA). This survey is not limited to federally funded construction projects. 

May 8, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $2,772,977 For 6,450 Disaster Recovery Workers

PHILADELPHIA, PA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), WSP USA Services Inc. - based in Winchester, Virginia, and doing business as WSP USA Inspection Services, Inc. - has paid $2,772,977 in back wages to 6,450 employees for violating the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 6, 2019

Gas Station Owners to Pay $63,398 In Wages to Six Employees After U.S. Department of Labor Finds Overtime Violations

CARROLLTON, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Tushar and Varsha Patel – the owners of an enterprise operating nine gas stations and convenience stores in Carrollton and Bowden, Georgia – will pay $63,398 in wages to six employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

May 2, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Wildland Firefighting and Roofing Company Paying $73,383 to Resolve Overtime Violations

PORTLAND, OR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), West Coast Reforestation Inc. – based in Salem, Oregon – will pay $73,383 to 26 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer will also pay $7,239 in civil penalties for violations of the FLSA’s child labor requirements.

May 2, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in 11 Louisiana Restaurants Paying $461,754 in Back Wages, Damages to 141 Employees

BATON ROUGE, LA – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the owners and operators of a family of 11 restaurants with common ownership in Louisiana have paid $230,877 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 141 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements.

April 29, 2019

Cheryl Marie Stanton Becomes New Administrator Of U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Cheryl Marie Stanton was sworn-in as the Administrator of the Department's Wage and Hour Division.

"I welcome and congratulate Cheryl Stanton as she officially assumes the position of Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "Cheryl brings with her a distinguished career including prior public service as Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce."

April 29, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Owner and Operator of Vermont Restaurants Paying $111,092 in Back Wages and Damages to Resolve Overtime Violations

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), The Spot LLC – owner of two Burlington, Vermont, restaurants – has paid $55,546 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 91 current and former employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $2,360 in penalties for child labor violations.

April 29, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Opinion Letter, Concludes Service Providers for a Virtual Marketplace Company Are Independent Contractors

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued a new opinion letter that addresses compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 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.

The opinion letter issued today is:

April 26, 2019

Florida Landscaping Company to Pay $44,280 in Back Wages for Overtime Violations After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

LONGWOOD, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Competitive Edge Group Inc. – operating as Competitive Edge Landscaping and based in Longwood, Florida – will pay $44,280 in back wages to 75 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 26, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Five North Carolina Subway Restaurants Paying $13,970 in Back Wages

DURHAM, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), five Subway fast food franchise locations in North Carolina – owned and operated by Mahmoud Alkurdasi and Hala M. Saleh – have paid $13,970 in back wages to 150 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 26, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in New Hampshire Construction Company Paying $77,357 to 45 Employees

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Nordic Construction Services LLC – based in Berlin, New Hampshire – has paid $38,678 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 45 employees to resolve overtime and record keeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 26, 2019

Texas Counseling Company to Pay $22,000 in Back Wages, Damages For Violating Anti-Retaliation Law in Nursing Mothers Case

LUBBOCK, TX – In a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, Allegiance Behavioral Health Center of Plainview doing business as Inspirations, a subsidiary of Allegiance Health Management Inc. based in Shreveport, Louisiana, will pay $22,000 in back wages and compensatory and liquidated damages to a former employee for violating the anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 25, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Idaho Construction Contractor Paying $51,328 to 25 Employees to Resolve Overtime Violations

BOISE, ID – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Any Weather Exteriors LLC – a construction contractor based in Star, Idaho – will pay $51,328 in back wages and liquidated damages to 25 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

April 25, 2019

Sweet Potato Farm to Pay $105,000 in Back Wages and Penalties to Settle U.S. Department of Labor Lawsuit for H-2A Visa Program Violations

HESSMER, LA – To resolve a lawsuit filed with the Department of Labor's Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), Earl Roy Farm of Louisiana LLC – based in Hessmer, Louisiana – has signed consent findings and will pay $71,611 in back wages to 76 employees, and $33,388 in civil money penalties. The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigated the company and found it had violated the labor provisions of the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program.

Specifically, the WHD found that Earl Roy Farm of Louisiana LLC: