Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Press Releases: Employee Misclassification as Independent Contractors
National
- February 23, 2012
US Labor Department, Louisiana Workforce Commission sign agreement to reduce misclassification of employees as independent contractors - February 9, 2012
US Labor Department, California sign agreement to reduce misclassification of employees as independent contractors - December 5, 2011
US Labor Department, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment sign agreement to reduce misclassification of employees as independent contractors - April 22, 2010
Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on introduction of legislation regarding issue of misclassification
Northeast Region
The following states/territories/districts fall under the Northeast Region: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- August 28, 2012
Woodbridge, Va., construction company to pay $101,000 in back wages following US Labor Department investigation - July 9, 2012
US Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division focuses on enforcing labor law compliance in Virginia's construction industry - March 29, 2012
US Labor Department initiative finds more than $1.3 million in back wages due to 478 underpaid Massachusetts employees - February 8, 2012
US Labor Department sues Chelsea, Mass., flooring company to recover back wages and damages for nearly 100 employees - Nov. 30, 2011
US Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division aims to strengthen labor law compliance at Connecticut and Rhode Island construction projects - Nov. 4, 2011
Allston, Mass., employer to pay $250,000 in back wages and damages to 42 workers following US Labor Department investigation - July 27, 2011
Essington, Pa., company pays more than $256,000 in back wages to delivery drivers following US Labor Department investigation - June 23, 2011
Salem, Mass., pizzeria agrees to pay more than $80,000 in back wages, liquidated damages for 11 employees after US Labor Department investigation - May 3, 2011
US Labor Department recovers nearly $2.9 million in back wages for more than 500 contract employees of Stanley Associates and subcontractors - March 15, 2011
Review board affirms US Labor Department recovery of more than $792,000 in back wages for 79 employees on New York City’s Vladeck Houses project - March 7, 2011
US Labor Department recovers more than $219,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 44 misclassified Boston-area restaurant employees - Feb. 16, 2011
US Labor Department sues Puerto Rico nail salons and company officers to recover employee overtime, back wages and damages - February 7, 2011
US Labor Department recovers more than $934,000 in overtime back wages for 479 employees of UnitedHealthcare in Hartford, Conn. - December 16, 2010
US Labor Department seeks to recover back wages, proposes debarment of construction contractor for labor violations at New York City publicly-funded housing project - Aug. 4, 2010
US Labor Department recovers more than $164,000 in back wages for misclassified employees in Westhampton, NY
Southeast Region
The following states fall under the Southeast Region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
- March 20, 2012
US Labor Department sues Kentucky cable, telephone and Internet installer to recover unpaid overtime wages, damages for 165 employees - Jan. 9, 2012
US Labor Department finds Knoxville, Tenn., security company owes $62,000 in back wages to 34 guards misclassified as independent contractors - Dec. 1, 2011
Stanley Steemer franchises agree to comply with federal labor laws following US Department of Labor investigations in Georgia and Texas - Sept. 6, 2011
230 employees of Georgia barbeque and seafood restaurant chain receive $104,000 in back wages following US Department of Labor investigation - Aug. 18, 2011
2 Jacksonville, Fla., restaurants and owners ordered to pay more than $934,000 to 30 workers following US Labor Department investigation - July 19, 2011
Owners of defunct 1st National Leasing held liable for minimum wage and overtime violations, resolving US Labor Department lawsuit - May 24, 2011
US Department of Labor recovers nearly $30,000 in back wages for employees of liquor store and bar in Bryson City, NC - May 24, 2011
US Department of Labor obtains more than $118,000 in back wages for security guards in eastern Kentucky - May 4, 2011
US Labor Department investigation recovers nearly $241,000 in back wages for 33 construction workers in South Florida - March 9, 2011
Florida-based company with locations nationwide agrees to pay more than $754,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation - March 1, 2011
Winter Park, Fla., electrical contractor agrees to pay 14 workers more than $68,700 in back wages following US Labor Department investigation
Midwest Region
The following states fall under the Midwest Region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.
- May 3, 2012
US Labor Department obtains judgment against Illinois-based Skokie Maid; more than $500,000 in unpaid wages, damages to be paid to 75 misclassified workers - Dec. 28, 2011
US Department of Labor sues Columbus, Ohio-based Healthy Solutions Home Health Services seeking back wages, liquidated damages for employees - Dec. 08, 2011
US Department of Labor sues 2 Chicago-area cleaning companies, owners to recover unpaid wages and damages for 135 employees - Oct. 14, 2011
Judge rules Ohio-based Cascom employees misclassified as independent contractors, denied overtime pay in suit brought by US Labor Department - June 7, 2011
Court awards US Department of Labor more than $200,000 in back wages, damages for Chicago area private security guards - April 20, 2011
US Department of Labor recovers more than $65,000 in back wages for workers of Minneapolis roofing company - October 4, 2010
US Labor Department investigation results in court order against landscaping companies for wrongly misclassifying employees, $173,000 in back wages
Southwest Region
The following states fall under the Southwest Region: Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
- Aug. 23, 2012
Pipe company in Beasley, Texas, pays more than $104,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation - Aug 22, 2012
US Department of Labor files lawsuit against Houston-based emergency medical service companies to secure $142,000 in back wages for 76 employees - July 11, 2012
US Labor Department recovers nearly $47,000 in back wages for 74 employees of Lubbock, Texas-based lawn care company - May 30, 2012
Aspen Power in Lufkin, Texas, pays more than $485,000 in overtime back wages to 135 workers following US Labor Department investigation - April 19, 2012
Elevations Shoring in Kenner, La., agrees to pay nearly $431,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation - March 13, 2012
US Labor Department launches initiative to enforce wage and hour laws in Texas hotel and motel industry - Feb. 13, 2012
US Labor Department recovers nearly $27,000 in overtime back wages for grocery store employees in Tulsa, Okla. - Feb. 8, 2012
US Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division launches labor law enforcement effort at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas - Jan. 10, 2012
South Dakota builder to pay more than $110,000 in back wages to 34 employees following US Labor Department investigation - Jan. 10, 2012
Temporary staffing agency in Dallas to pay more than $244,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation - Jan. 3, 2012
Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant pays more than $74,000 in back wages to 28 workers at 4 Arkansas locations following US Labor Department investigation - Dec. 19, 2011
Frederick, Okla., to pay 29 city workers nearly $61,000 in minimum and overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation - Oct. 4, 2011
Bethany, Okla.-based auto care company to pay more than $47,000 in overtime back wages to 40 employees following Labor Department investigation - September 8, 2011
US Labor Department recovers more than $70,000 in back wages for 34 employees of Tulsa, Okla.-based Latshaw Drilling - August 1, 2011
Credit union employees in Fort Worth, Texas, to receive more than $83,000 in back overtime wages following US Department of Labor investigation - July 14, 2011
US Department of Labor recovers nearly $105,000 in overtime back wages for 57 Hurricane Ike cleanup workers in Anahuac, Texas - June 29, 2011
C and K Rentals in Cuero, Texas, to pay more than $433,000 in back wages to 124 employees following US Labor Department investigation - June 16, 2011
Oil field workers in Houston to receive more than $137,000 in overtime back wages following US Department of Labor investigation - June 7, 2011
US Department of Labor recovers more than $203,000 in overtime back wages for 224 drywall installers in Lafayette, La. - June 6, 2011
US Department of Labor enforcement initiative recovers more than $146,000 in back wages for nearly 680 child care facility employees in Louisiana - May 16, 2011
Cable installers in Plano, Texas, to receive more than $270,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation - May 9, 2011
US Labor Department investigation results in 9 southern Oklahoma businesses agreeing to pay nearly $95,000 in back minimum and overtime wages - March 9, 2011
US Labor Department recovers nearly $190,000 in back wages for 57 employees of Tulsa, Okla.-based MESA Products - May 5, 2010
Oil field construction company in Magnolia, Texas, agrees to pay more than $106,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation - Feb. 22, 2010
Houston-based landscaping company agrees to pay nearly $90,000 in overtime back wages following US Department of Labor investigation
Western Region
The following states/territories fall under the Western Region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
- May 14, 2012
Downey-based home nursing agency agrees to pay more than $654,000 in back wages to 108 nurses following US Labor Department investigation - April 5, 2012
US Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division conducts initiative to strengthen labor law compliance in Guam’s construction industry - Feb. 15, 2012
US Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division launches enforcement initiative to combat labor law violations at Seattle-area nail salons - March 29, 2011
Levi Strauss agrees to pay more than $1 million in overtime back wages to nearly 600 employees following US Labor Department investigation