Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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PUEBLO, CO -- Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo, Colo., has paid $123, 628 in back overtime to 907 employees following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation. The employer violated the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to include shift differential pay in determining the regular rate prior to computing overtime due employees.

“It is important that employers fully understand their obligations under the law and assure that all their employees are paid proper overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act,” said Richard V. Habura, district director for the department’s Wage and Hour Division in Denver.

An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division also determined that the employer automatically deducted 30 minutes for a meal break each day when employees did not always receive a meal break and did not use the correct method of overtime payment. The company cooperated during the investigation, agreed to future compliance and the payment of all back wages found due.

The Wage and Hour Division enforces the FLSA, which requires the payment of the federal minimum wage and time and one-half an employee's regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. The law also requires employers to maintain adequate and accurate records of employees’ wages, hours and other conditions of employment.

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.

For more information about the FLSA, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243), or contact the Denver District Office at (720) 264-3250. 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.