Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

HOUSTON -- The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against Texas Liqua Tech Services Inc. in Houston, Texas, to recover $30,413 in back wages due 13 former and current roofing workers.

A consent judgment, confirming violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), was filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, following an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour division in Houston.

“This employer was not paying its workers when loading and unloading company vehicles or for travel time to their first job site and when returning from their last job site,” said Cynthia Watson, Wage and Hour regional administrator in Dallas. “If employees work overtime hours, they must be paid overtime compensation.”

The investigation, covering the period May 18, 2002 to Nov. 2, 2003, determined that Texas Liqua Tech Services paid straight-time when employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. In addition, the employer did not maintain the required recordkeeping.

The FLSA requires employees to be paid minimum wage for all hours worked and time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 per week. Employers must also maintain accurate time and payroll records.

Texas Liqua Tech Services provides installation, restoration and waterproofing of roofs for commercial buildings. The company has agreed to pay the back wages due and to comply with the FLSA in the future.

For more information about the FLSA, call the Wage and Hour Houston office at (713) 339-5500 or the Department of Labor’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

###

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.