Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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CARROLLTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that GE Healthcare Technologies in Carrollton, Texas, has paid 61 present and former employees $148,864 in back wages for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“The Labor Department is committed to ensuring that workers are paid their full wages, including any overtime wages earned,” said Cynthia Watson, Wage and Hour regional administrator in Dallas. “GE Healthcare incorrectly classified employees as exempt and failed to properly pay overtime wages.”

An investigation by the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, which covered the two-years from Jan. 4, 2003 to Jan. 3, 2005, determined that the employees did not qualify for an exemption from the overtime requirements because their job duties did not meet the regulatory criteria. Additionally, the company failed to maintain accurate payroll records as required by the FLSA.

The General Electric Co., doing business as GE Healthcare Technologies in Carrollton, services and provides technical support for diagnostic equipment and provides health care professionals network computer support for medical claims. The company cooperated with the investigation and has agreed to future compliance with the FLSA. All back wages have been paid in full.

The FLSA, enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, requires employees to be paid the minimum wage for all hours worked and time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 per week. The FLSA provides an exemption from both minimum wage and overtime for bona-fide executive, administrative and professional employees. To qualify for the exemption, employees generally must meet certain job duty and salary tests. Under the Labor Department’s new “Overtime Security” rules, workers earning less than $23,660 per year – or $455 per week – are guaranteed overtime protection.

The Wage and Hour Division recovered nearly $200 million in back wages in fiscal year 2004 for more than 288,000 workers. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased during that time from 108 to 92 days.

For more information about the FLSA, call the Wage and Hour Dallas district office, at (817) 861-2150, or metro number at (817) 261-4371, or the Department of Labor’s toll-free line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available at www.wagehour.dol.gov. Information on the exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees can be found at www.dol.gov/fairpay.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.