Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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DES MOINES, IA -- The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor has begun the second year of a five year initiative to increase compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage, overtime and youth employment provisions in the Iowa and Nebraska nursing home industry.

During FY 2005, the Wage and Hour Division will investigate a randomly selected number of nursing homes in the two states to determine the level of FLSA compliance in the industry. This investigation-based compliance survey of nursing homes will also enable the Wage and Hour Division to develop better strategies for increasing compliance in the nursing home industry.

As part of the initiative, Wage and Hour is continuing its ongoing efforts to provide compliance assistance to the industry and to partner with the state health care associations to reach nursing home employers. Last year, the Wage and Hour Division mailed compliance assistance materials to approximately 600 nursing homes in Iowa and Nebraska. Follow-up investigation of 38 nursing facilities in the two states found that about half were in compliance with the FLSA provisions. Failure to pay employees for all hours worked and incorrectly computing overtime pay were the most common violations.

The department has compliance assistance materials online to assist employers with achieving FLSA compliance. These materials may be accessed at; www.wagehour.dol.gov or obtained by contacting the Des Moines office directly at (515) 284-4625 or the Nebraska office at (402)221-4682.

The FLSA requires the payment of minimum wage, currently $5.15 per hour, and for most workers overtime pay at one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a week. Specific information concerning the newly enacted rules covering the overtime exemption is available at www.dol.gov/fairpay. The FLSA further requires employers to keep accurate time and payroll records. The FLSA also sets standards for the employment of youth under the age of 18. Information about the jobs teens may perform and the hours they may work can be accessed at www.youthrules.dol.gov.

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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.