Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- U.S. Department of Labor Reaches Agreement with A.R. Super Market. A.R. Super Market Inc., located in Garden Grove, has agreed to pay $99,673 in back wages to 34 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor. The investigation found that employees were not paid overtime as required by federal law, and the employer failed to keep accurate records of hours worked.

“The Department of Labor is committed to strong enforcement of the laws to ensure that workers are paid correctly for all hours worked," said George Friday, wage and hour regional administrator. "We’re working to ensure that employers and employees know the law and abide by it so that all workers are paid the wages they are due."

The investigation of A.R. Super Market, by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division, revealed that workers were not always paid at the rate of time and one-half when working more than 40 hours per week, and were paid for some overtime hours in cash. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that employees be paid one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for work hours in excess of 40 per week. The back wages compensate employees for work performed between January 2002 and January 2004. A.R. Super Markets has agreed to comply with federal wage and hour laws in the future.

The investigation was part of an effort by the Wage and Hour Division to gauge and improve compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act among locally owned grocery stores in the Orange County area. More than half the stores reviewed were found to be violating the federal wage and hour laws, especially the overtime provisions.

The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recovered more than $212 million in back wages in fiscal year (FY) 2003, a 21 percent increase over the record setting amount of FY 2002. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased in FY 2003 from 129 days to 108 days. WHD assessed employers nearly $10 million in civil money penalties in FY 2003.

For more information about the Fair Labor Standards Act, call the Orange Area Office of the Wage and Hour Division at (714) 621-1650. Staff speaking Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Spanish and other languages may be available to assist those contacting the Orange Area Office. Callers may also dial the Department of Labor’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4US WAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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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.