Press Release
☷US Department of Labor recovers $180K in back wages damages from trio of Orange County contractors found shortchanging employees
U.S. Department of Labor ( By Press Release office)
Jan 06,2024
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The US Department of Labor has recovered $180 , 299 in back wages and damages from three Orange County contractors who were found to be shortchanging their employees . These contractors misclassified their workers as independent contractors and denied them overtime pay as required by law . This violation is common in the construction industry and deprives workers of their rightful wages and benefits . The department ' s Wage and Hour Division conducted investigations and found that these Southern California companies had violated their workers ' rights . In total , $90 , 150 in back wages was recovered , along with an equal amount in liquidated damages for the affected workers . The employers were also assessed $5 , 319 in civil money penalties . The division settled with the employers administratively after discovering several infractions . For example , Skeffington Enterprises Inc . , operating as Ben ' s Asphalt , did not pay their workers overtime premium rates for hours over 40 in a workweek due to deductions for lunch breaks that were not taken . Ziegler Inc . , a garage door and iron gate manufacturer and installer , failed to pay workers minimum wage and overtime wages . ABC Builders LLC , a construction contractor , misclassified security guards as independent contractors , failed to pay required overtime , and did not keep accurate time records or report all employees on payroll . The division urges employers to comply with the law and pay workers all their earnings . More information about the Wage and Hour Division , including a search tool for back wages , is available . Employers and workers can also contact the division confidentially with any questions , regardless of their immigration status . The department can chat with callers in over 200 languages using the agency ' s toll - free helpline at 866 - 4US - WAGE ( 487 - 9243 ) . Make sure your work hours and pay are correct by downloading the department ' s Timesheet App for Android and iOS for free , also in Spanish . This news release is also in Spanish .
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