Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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ATLANTA --

The InterContinental Hotels Group agreed to pay $144,040 to 24 employees working at the company’s computer center in Alpharetta, Ga., after an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division found the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act must be compensated for all hours worked,” said Janet Campbell, district director for the Wage and Hour Division in Atlanta.

Wage and Hour investigators found that during the time period June 2004 to June 2006, computer operators, computer analysts, lead operators and lead operations analysts often worked through a designated 30-minute meal break and were required to stay an additional half-hour at the end of their shift to report any problems or concerns to incoming staff. Because the employer failed to include this time in hours worked, employees were not paid for all overtime hours worked over 40 in a work week.

The company cooperated fully during the investigation, agreed to pay the back wages, maintain accurate records and comply fully with the Fair Labor Standards Act in the future.

Staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the computer department is responsible for handling computer problems at InterContinental hotels in the United States and around the world.

Employees covered by the FLSA must be paid at least the federal minimum wage and one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a single work week. Employers must also maintain accurate records of employees’ wages, hours and other conditions of employment.

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 Atlanta office located at 61 Forsyth St., SW, Room 7M10; phone: (404) 893-4600.

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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.