Department of Labor Sues Dallas Company on Behalf of Workers

Dallas, United States, 01/03/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

The United States Department of Labor recently announced that it filed a lawsuit against The Christmas Light Co. Inc. and the company’s owner to address alleged Fair Labor Standards Act violations. The Department of Labor seeks to recover approximately $250,000 in wages for workers who installed and removed lights for the company. The Department of Labor also seeks an additional amount in liquidated damages and an injunction against future violations of the federal labor law.

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires that covered, nonexempt employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked. Employees must also receive overtime pay at one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay. The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division investigated The Christmas Light Co. Inc.’s operations and concluded that the company failed to pay over 200 light installers and removers minimum wage and/or the proper overtime wage. Instead, the company paid employees a flat rate for installing and removing Christmas lights without regard to the number of hours the employees worked and with no extra compensation for overtime work.

Many employers need to review their policies and practices to ensure that they are in compliance with federal labor laws. To speak to a Texas wage and hour compliance lawyer, contact the Dallas, Texas employment lawyers at Clouse Dunn LLP. You may send an email to [email protected] or call (214) 239-2705.