Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) has agreed to pay $250,000 in overtime pay to 76 workers as a result of an agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, requires that covered workers be paid one-and-one-half times their regular rates of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a single work week. The division's investigation of UPHS discovered that employees worked at more than one UPHS facility and their hours of work were not combined when computing overtime pay.

"The Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that workers are paid correctly for all hours worked," said Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "In this case the Labor Department has restored $250,000 to these wage earners. Through the Department's determined efforts more than $212 million in back wages were recovered for American workers last year."

The investigation covered the period Dec. 1, 2000 through July 1, 2002.

The Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recovered more than $212 million in back wages in fiscal year (FY) 2003 - a 21 percent increase over the record setting amount in FY 2002. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased in FY 2003 from 129 days to 108 days. WHD assessed employers nearly $10 million civil money penalties in FY 2003.

The WHD recovered more than $212 million in back wages in fiscal year (FY) 2003, a 21 percent increase over the record setting amount of FY 2002. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased in FY 2003 from 129 days to 108 days. WHD assessed employers nearly $10 million in civil money penalties in FY 2003.

The FLSA requires that all covered employees be paid at least the minimum wage and overtime pay. Accurate records must also be maintained of employees' wages, hours and other conditions of employment.

For more information on federal pay requirements or other provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, visit the agency's website at www.wagehour.dol.gov, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or the Philadelphia Wage and Hour Division at (215) 597-4950.

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