Workers these days may feel as if they are overworked and underpaid. Employers in California and across the nation are constantly looking for ways to cut costs, especially in today’s economic climate. This is why wage and hour laws were enacted. These laws exist to ensure that workers are paid for the work they provide. Claims were filed against a construction company in another state after they allegedly failed to pay overtime to employees.
An investigation launched by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor found that the company neglected to pay its employees overtime after the employees had worked over 40 hours in a workweek. The company also split employees’ hours into two separate pay checks each week, to make it look like employees had not worked overtime, according to allegations. The company was recently ordered to pay back wages and damages to employees, as well as fines.
The company will pay almost $117,000 in back wages and damages to 45 total employees. It will also have to pay $16,000 in civil penalties for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Requirements by the FLSA say that workers must be paid at least $7.25 per hour for all hours worked, as well as time and a half for any hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek.
Wage and hour laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act provide wage protection for employees across the country. Workers in California who feel they have been not been paid for work could benefit from discussions with a knowledgeable attorney. A successfully litigated lawsuit could result in the recovery of lost wages and as well as other damages.
Source: bdtonline.com, “Bluefield construction company ordered to pay fines, back wages and damages to employees”, April 17, 2018