Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Sutherland Global Services Inc., formerly known as Sutherland Group LTD, of Pittsford, N.Y., for alleged violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found that approximately 300 employees, working at five different locations in Rochester, N.Y., were required to work more than 40 hours many workweeks without being compensated properly for the overtime hours worked. The investigation also found that the company did not keep proper records of the number of hours employees worked.

The FLSA requires that covered employees be paid at least the applicable minimum wage as well as one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 per week. The law also requires that accurate records of employees’ wages, hours and other conditions of employment be maintained.

“This Labor Department action,” said Corlis Sellers, Northeast regional administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, “demonstrates that we will not hesitate to file suit against employers who violate the law by failing to properly pay their employees for all the hours they work.”

The Labor Department’s lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York Dec. 15, charges Sutherland Global Services with willful violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the FLSA since July 15, 2001. The suit asks the court to permanently enjoin the defendants from future violations of the law and to order them to pay employees back wages due, along with an equal amount in liquidated damages or prejudgment interest.

The Buffalo District Office of the Wage and Hour Division conducted this investigation and the department’s lawsuit was filed by the Regional Solicitor’s Office in New York City. For more information about the provisions of the FLSA, call the Department of Labor’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or contact the Buffalo office at 716-842-2950. 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.