Dunkin' Donuts franchises have been cited several times over the years for violations of labor laws. If you run a business that hires hourly shift workers or minors, pay particular attention so that you don't run afoul of these laws yourself. Here's a summary of the violations: Wage theft in 2016: for changing employees' time [...]
The Department of Labor (DOL) assessed Area Wide Protection Inc., dba Roadtek Traffic Solutions LLC, $112,187 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 297 employees based in Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The employees had to report to the office to complete tasks before and after their shifts. Tasks included flagging, [...]
For the most concise and clear explanation of how under-the-table pay hurts both employer and employee and six fixes, check out this article: http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiques/antiques-americana/antique-store..
Slocumb Law Firm LLC in Auburn AL paid $26,496 in back wages and damages to 42 workers for violation of the recordkeeping and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employees didn’t receive overtime pay when they worked more than 40 hours during a workweek. The law firm also didn’t keep accurate records [...]
Why it's key to encourage proper timekeeping practices Supervisors must make sure employees are following your timekeeping policies as they're written. Even if the policy you have on paper is compliant with the law, a regular pattern of the policy being ignored or discouraged can work against your company in any disputes. One employer learned [...]
"Reasonable diligence" expected from employers You know it's important to accurately track and report the hours people work, even if they're teleworking. The Dept. of Labor (DOL) confirms this in Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-5. The bulletin discusses employers' responsibility to pay employees for time worked when they're remote and what's considered "reasonable diligence" under [...]
Surprise visits to double-check compliance for all employers The Department of Labor (DOL) is ramping up enforcement of various laws, including the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Several employers have already been tripped up by FFCRA and what it requires, and the DOL’s been fining them for noncompliance. The agency’s also going after [...]
Vague wage statements cost large employer big bucks: Lessons learned Critical info Walmart didn’t include on workers’ paystubs Employee wage statements should be as clear and informative as possible to prevent legal trouble, as shown by the outcome of a recent court case in California. In Magadia v Wal-Mart Associates Inc., a former employee sued [...]
Meal Breaks and compensable time: Company owed $915K for pay errors Employees weren’t paid for hours actually worked It’s critical that workers who are entitled to meal breaks are given the chance to take them free of duty. If they somehow end up working through a bona fide meal period and aren’t paid correctly for [...]
Thrift store chain didn’t pay workers for short breaks & OT owed $114K When brief rest periods are considered compensable. It’s important to pay employees correctly for all hours that count as time worked, including compensable break time. After a Dept. of Labor (DOL) investigation, one branch of a national thrift store chain came under [...]
