Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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COLUMBUS, Ohio --

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed legal actions against a Cincinnati-based mortgage broker for alleged violations of the minimum wage and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The company, Alliance Mortgage Group Inc., and Credit Financial Services LLC, operates in Ohio and Florida. The Labor Department is seeking to recover $239,157 plus an equal amount in liquidated damages for 211 workers.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division conducted an investigation covering the period from March 2003 through February 2005. The investigation found that non-exempt mortgage loan officers, performing inside sales work at the company, were paid a monthly commission only and often received no wages for a month, or wages less than the federal minimum wage.

Alliance Mortgage operates branch offices in Vandalia, Ohio and West Palm Beach, Tampa, Aventura and Hollywood, Fla. The Labor Department has also asked the court to enjoin the company from further violations of the FLSA.

The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employees to be paid the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and time and one-half the regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a week unless the employee is exempt from overtime pay. Employers must also maintain accurate time and payroll records.

For more information about the requirements of the FLSA, call the Department of Labor’s toll-free help line at (866) 4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

Information about exemptions for while-collar executive, administrative, and professional employees can be found on the Internet 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.