Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J. -- Hertz Local Edition Corp., headquartered in Park Ridge, N.J., has agreed to pay $320,088 in overtime back wages to 834 workers nationwide to correct violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

"The Department of Labor is committed to ensuring workers receive all earned wages,” said Corlis Sellers, regional administrator of the department’s Wage and Hour Division in Philadelphia. “This action restores more than $320,000 to Hertz employees across the country, and is further testament to this Administration’s determination to protect workers’ rights on the job.”

The investigation was initiated by the Houston, Texas, District Office of the department’s Wage and Hour Division. It was expanded by the Northern New Jersey District Office which conducted a limited nationwide investigation focused on assistant branch managers. The investigation, which included supervision of a company self-audit, disclosed that commissions were not factored in when determining a regular rate of pay for employees due overtime wages. The violations occurred from March 2001 to March 2003.

After the Wage and Hour Division explained the requirements of the law, Hertz agreed to pay all back wages due the assistant branch managers and to comply fully with all provisions of the FLSA in the future.

The FLSA requires employees to be paid the minimum wage for all hours worked and time and one-half the regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a work week. Employers must also maintain accurate time and payroll records.

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). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

###

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.