The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor recovered $103,979 in back wages for 55 current and former employees of a Tulsa security company.
An investigation determined the employees of PHD Security Services LLLP were denied their entitlement to overtime compensation for working more than 40 hours in a work week, according to a Sept. 28 news release.
“The Wage and Hour Division routinely provides assistance and training to help employers understand and comply with federal labor laws and avoid the costly consequences of violations,” Wage and Hour District Director in Oklahoma City Michael Speer said, according to the release.
He said employers must avoid misclassifying employees as independent contractors. They must understand who is and who isn’t an employee, the release reported. If a perceived industry standard conflicts with the law, employers must pay workers the appropriate minimum wage and overtime by following the law.
Employers who fail to respect workers’ rights, including paying full wages, will find it even more difficult to retain and recruit workers than employers who follow the law, Speer said, according to the release.
