Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

COLUMBUS, MT -- Stillwater Mining Company, Columbus, Mont., has paid $599,636 in back overtime wages to 749 employees following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation.

“This investigation reflects this Administration’s commitment to protecting the overtime rights of workers and ensuring that workers receive the full wages they have earned,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “In this case, we recovered $599,636 in back wages for these workers.”

The employer violated the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to include production bonuses in determining the regular rate of pay prior to computing overtime due employees.

The company has agreed to future compliance and payment of all back wages found due.

The law, enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, requires that covered workers be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked. It also requires that workers are paid time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a single workweek and that employers maintain adequate and 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, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243), or contact the Salt Lake City District Office at (801) 524-5706. 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.