The town of Sherborn, Massachusetts is being ordered to pay $26,451.01 in back pay after being found guilty of violating multiple provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to the investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division, Sherborn failed to pay a group of workers an average of the federal minimum wage and statutory overtime pay over 40 hours worked per week. The lawsuit covers fifteen workers, all of which are employees at the Fire Department. The Department of Labor did not levy a fine against the town for the offense.
Fire Department employees will also be paid an additional $4,200 for June and August 2011. In addition to awarding back pay to the employees, Sherman is also taking further steps to make compliance easier in the future. It is instituting a seven-day workweek, is promising to pay at least the minimum wage for all hours worked, and pledges to pay overtime after 214 hours in a 28-day cycle. In addition, Sherman is updating its record-keeping software to ensure that keep in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act’s record-keeping requirements.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is federal legislation that establishes federal standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment. Specifically, the FLSA requires employers to pay non-exempt employees at least the minimum wage (currently $7.25/hour) and overtime pay of one-and-one-half times the regular rate of pay for every hour worked over 40 in a single workweek. State labor laws may also augment federal labor laws and increase the minimum compensation for minimum wage and overtime.
If you believe that you or a loved one may have been illegally withheld minimum wage, overtime, or that your employer violated the FLSA in any other way, you may be entitled to receive monetary remuneration. Though labor laws, especially the intersection between federal and state laws, can be particularly confusing, a lawyer can help navigate the waters of pursuing justice for you. Contact an experienced FLSA lawyer to see if you qualify to seek back pay and compensation from your employer for their denial of pay and violation of your rights.