An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined Tarpon Springs, Fla.-based Arry’s Roofing Services violated the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. As a result of the violations, the roofing company paid $75,710 in back wages to 144 employees, according to a news release from the agency.
Investigators determined Arry’s Roofing services failed to include production bonuses paid to roofing employees in its calculations determining overtime rates. As a result, the roofing company paid overtime at rates lower than those required by the law. Wage and Hour Division inspectors also found the employer incorrectly classified salaried office employees as exempt from overtime and paid them flat salaries without regard for the number of hours they actually worked. Arry’s Roofing Services also violated the record-keeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act when it failed to keep time records for non-exempt salaried employees.
“Employers must familiarize themselves with their obligations to ensure they pay workers the wages they have legally earned,” said Wage and Hour Division Tampa, Fla., district director James Schmidt. “[The U.S. Department of Labor] offers a wide variety of compliance assistance tools and stand ready to help employers. Violations like those found in this case can be avoided.”