Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

ATLANTA, GA. -- Flash Foods Inc. has paid $50,385 in back overtime wages to 89 store managers after the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that the company had violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The company operates 177 gas stations and convenience stores in Georgia and northern Florida.

“Because these employees earn less than $455 a week, they are guaranteed overtime protection under the FLSA’s FairPay rules,” said Jeffrey Genkos, Wage and Hour’s assistant district director in Savannah.

Genkos added that the company cooperated during the Wage and Hour investigation. Additionally, after re-evaluating duties, the company raised some store managers’ salaries to $455 per week and agreed to pay other managers overtime when they work more than 40 hours in a work week

The FairPay regulations, which became effective August 23, 2004, strengthen overtime rights for 6.7 million American workers.

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

The FLSA requires that covered workers be paid at least the federal minimum wage. It also requires that workers are paid one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a single workweek.

For more information about FairPay, the Fair Labor Standards Act and other laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division, call the Department of Labor’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or visit the Savannah Wage and Hour Division office located in the J. Gordon Low Building Two, Suite B-210, 124 Barnard St.; phone: (912) 652-4221.

###

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.