Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Florida Hospital South has paid $1,915,386 in back overtime wages to 9,340 hourly employees after an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that hourly workers had not been paid in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“We are committed to ensuring that workers are paid all of the wages they have earned and I am very pleased that we have recovered nearly $2 million in back wages for these Floridians.” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Under this administration, record amounts have been recovered for workers and complaints are being resolved more efficiently.”

In August and September, workers were allegedly required to report to and remain at seven of the company’s hospitals each time a hurricane approached the Orlando area, but were not properly compensated. According to FLSA regulations, specific criteria apply when an employer requires employees to remain on-site for 24-hour periods.

The FLSA requires that covered workers be paid at least the federal minimum wage and are paid one-and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a single work week. Employers must also maintain 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, and other laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division, call the department’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243); visit the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov; or contact the Jacksonville district office, located at 3728 Philips Highway, Suite 219; phone: (904) 232-2489.

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