Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

MCKEES ROCKS, Pa -- Community Transportation Inc., doing business as CommTrans, has paid $249,272 in back wages to 77 drivers. The back wage payment corrects overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) found during a U.S. Department of Labor investigation. The McKees Rocks, Pa. company, which provides access services to the elderly and disabled, has been in operation since 1999.

The department’s Pittsburgh Wage and Hour Division investigated CommTrans and found that drivers, who were hourly nonexempt employees, were not compensated correctly for overtime hours. Drivers were paid their regular hourly rate regardless of how many hours they worked.

“It is important that employers fully understand their obligations under the law and assure that all their employees are paid proper overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act,” said Wage and Hour Regional Administrator Corlis Sellers.

After the Wage and Hour Division explained the requirements of the law, CommTrans cooperated with the agency to pay the back wages due and agreed to comply with all provisions of the FLSA in the future.

The FLSA requires employees to be paid the federal minimum wage of $5.15 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 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, call the Department of Labor’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.

###

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.