The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $293,698 in back wages for 56 construction workers after an investigation determined an Idaho contractor failed to pay required overtime.
.jpg)
The workers were employed by Speedy’s Framing LLC, a residential construction company based in Nampa. Federal investigators found the company denied employees overtime pay and failed to compensate one worker for travel time between the company shop and construction sites.
The investigation was conducted by the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, which enforces federal wage laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act.
According to investigators, Speedy’s Framing paid employees straight-time wages for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, rather than paying the legally required overtime premium.
Federal law requires most employees to receive overtime pay at one and one-half times their regular hourly rate when they work more than 40 hours in a week.
Investigators also determined the employer failed to pay a foreman for travel time spent driving company vehicles between the business’s shop and various job sites. This unpaid time resulted in additional overtime wages owed.
As a result of the investigation, the Wage and Hour Division recovered back wages ranging from $90 to $32,047 for individual workers, depending on the number of unpaid overtime hours.
The company was also required to pay a $24,795 civil money penalty because investigators determined the violations were willful.
“The U.S. Department of Labor is determined to hold employers accountable, particularly when they deliberately attempt to evade the law by denying workers overtime pay,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Katherine Walum in Portland, Oregon. “Federal law protects workers’ rights to be paid their full, earned wages. We encourage employers to contact us for compliance assistance so they can prevent violations.”
Following the investigation, Speedy’s Framing agreed to pay the recovered wages and comply with federal overtime and recordkeeping requirements going forward.
The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to properly track employee hours and pay overtime for eligible workers. The law is designed to ensure employees receive the wages they are legally entitled to for all hours worked.
The Wage and Hour Division encourages employers and workers to seek compliance assistance when questions arise about wage requirements.
.jpg)
The Labor Department provides resources to help businesses understand and comply with wage and hour laws. Employers can access industry-specific compliance toolkits and training materials through the agency.
The department also offers the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which allows employers to voluntarily identify and resolve potential minimum wage or overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and certain provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Workers who believe they may be owed wages can contact the Wage and Hour Division through its toll-free helpline or use the department’s online search tool to check whether back wages have been recovered on their behalf.
Officials also recommend employees use the agency’s free timesheet mobile application, which allows workers to track hours and pay records on iOS and Android devices.
The enforcement action highlights the Labor Department’s continued oversight of wage practices in industries such as construction, where overtime and travel time compliance remain key components of federal labor law enforcement.
Originally reported by U.S. Department of Labor
