Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The U.S. Department of Labor recovered $9,135 in back wages for six employees of U.S. Rents It located in Jefferson City and Columbia, Mo. The workers were not properly paid for overtime as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Richard Longo, assistant district director for the department’s Wage and Hour Division in St. Louis, said, “The department’s investigation found that general laborers and nonexempt salaried management employees were docked for lunch breaks that were not taken. This practice resulted in uncompensated overtime hours.”

The investigation also found four minors operating commercial trucks and forklifts on a regular basis which is a violation of the FLSA’s hazardous occupations orders. Under those orders, youth younger than 18 are not permitted to operate motor vehicles or run power-driven hoisting equipment, such as forklifts, as a part of work-related duties.

Investigation of the equipment rental firm covered a two-year period from March 4, 2003 to March 3, 2005. The Wage and Hour Division assessed the company $11,220 in civil money penalties for the youth employment violations.

The FLSA requires employees to be paid the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and time and one-half the regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a week unless the employee is exempt from overtime pay. Employers must also maintain accurate time and payroll records. The youth employment provisions of the FLSA prohibit youth under 18 from performing hazardous jobs. Hours of work are also restricted for workers under age 16.

The Wage and Hour Division recovered nearly $200 million in back wages in fiscal year 2004 for more than 288,000 workers. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased during that time from108 to 92 days.

For more information about the FLSA, call the department'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. Information about the current exemption for while-collar executive, administrative, and professional employees can be found on the Internet at www.dol.gov/fairpay. The YouthRules! web page, launched to help young workers, employees and parents learn more about the hours that youth may work and the jobs they may perform, can be accessed at www.youthrules.dol.gov.

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