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www.dol.gov/esa
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| November 4, 2008 DOL Home > ESA > WHD > 2004 Statistics Fact Sheet |  |
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Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
2004 Statistics Fact Sheet Wage and Hour Maintains High Enforcement Levels in Fiscal Year 2004 The Employment Standards Administration’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recovered more than $196 million in back wages in fiscal year 2004. Back wage collections have increased steadily since fiscal year 2001, with record breaking amounts collected in fiscal year 2003.[1] The number of workers receiving back wages has increased by over 33 percent since fiscal year 2001. The average number of cases concluded by WHD investigators in each fiscal year has shown a steady increase from just over 40 cases concluded per investigator in 2001 to 46 in 2004, as WHD increased its enforcement productivity. WHD investigators have also significantly decreased the number of days it takes to conclude a complaint case. The agency concluded some 37,842 compliance actions in fiscal year 2004. WHD assessed nearly $9 million in civil money penalties this past fiscal year – a slight decrease from the nearly $10 million assessed in 2003.
Over 265,000 Employees Received Back Wages as a Result of WHD Investigations in Fair Labor Standards Act Cases. In fiscal year 2004, more than 265,000 employees received back wages as a result of WHD investigations in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) cases. WHD collected more than $165 million in back wages for violations in FLSA cases, a 48 percent increase over the $111 million collected in fiscal year 2001, although slightly less than in 2003. FLSA cases represent around 83 percent of all cases handled by the agency in a fiscal year. In fiscal year 2004, back wages for overtime violations represented roughly 92 percent of all FLSA back wages collected, and the number of employees due overtime back wages represented about 89 percent of all employees due FLSA back wages. This fiscal year, about 71 percent of the FLSA cases had monetary violations, compared to the 69, 70 and 66 percent of monetary violation cases in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. In fiscal year 2004, WHD assessed employers $3,500,388 in FLSA civil money penalties, an increase of 9 percent over fiscal year 2003.
Back Wages Collected for Workers in Low-Wage Industries Increased 33 Percent over the Last Four Years WHD continues to pursue compliance in low-wage industries, those with vulnerable, often immigrant workers, and those industries with a history of chronic violations. In fiscal year 2004, the agency collected more than $43 million in back wages for 84,897 workers in selected low-wage industries – an increase of over 22 percent of low-wage workers receiving back wages since fiscal year 2001. Over a third of WHD enforcement resources are attributed to investigations in nine selected low-wage industries, which include day care, restaurants, janitorial services and temporary help. The increase in back wages collected and the number of low-wage workers receiving back wages reflects WHD’s continued commitment to ensuring that low-wage workers’ rights and wages are protected.
Steady Decline in Minors Employed in Violation of Child Labor Laws In fiscal year 2004, 41 percent fewer minors were found employed in violation of the FLSA child labor provisions than in fiscal year 2001. Forty-seven (47) percent fewer minors were found illegally employed in hazardous occupations than in 2001. The number of investigations in which child labor violations were found decreased by nearly 23 percent from fiscal year 2001, while the number of self-directed child labor investigations increased by nearly 7 percent in the same time period. WHD assessed $4,191,809 in child labor civil money penalties in fiscal year 2004.
Family and Medical Leave Act Enforcement Complaints Declined Slightly in 2004 The number of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) complaint investigations concluded dropped slightly in 2004 from fiscal year 2003, but were about 20 percent higher than in fiscal year 2001. The number of violation cases increased by only 4 percent during the same time period from 2001 through 2004. Violation cases as a percent of FMLA complaints decreased significantly from 52 percent in fiscal year 2001 to 45 percent in fiscal year 2004. In fiscal year 2004, WHD collected just over $2.3 million in back wages for violations of FMLA. Termination of employees seeking FMLA leave continues to be the primary reason that employees filed a complaint.
[1] FY2003 statistics include several multimillion dollar back wage cases, including one case in excess of $21 million, that were concluded during FY2003. [2] FLSA registered cases are investigations registered under the Fair Labor Standards Act (as opposed to the Davis-Bacon Act or the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act). The violations, back wages and employees receiving back wages for this group of investigations are not limited to FLSA violations. The reported violations may have occurred under any other statute that WHD enforces. [3] Includes Agriculture, Day Care, Restaurants, Garment Manufacturing, Guard Services, Health Care, Hotels and Motels, Janitorial Services, Temporary Help. 2003 Statistics Fact Sheet
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