A federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor has resulted in $374,640 in back wages and liquidated damages for 46 healthcare workers in New Hampshire who were denied overtime compensation.

Wage and Hour Division investigators found D+S Elder Services, based in Keene, failed to pay overtime for the time employees spent traveling between worksites by paying straight-time wages for hours above 40 in a workweek, according to a Nov. 3 news release.

“Too frequently, the Wage and Hour Division finds violations in the home care industry related to overtime and failure to pay workers for travel time,” said Steven McKinney, Wage and Hour District director in Manchester, according to the release.

Employers can avoid costly consequences as what happened in this case by reviewing pay practices and the compliance assistance materials provided by the Wage and Hour Division, or by contacting them with questions, McKinney said in the release.

Depriving workers of hard-earned wages makes it tougher for employees and their families to make ends meet, McKinney said in the release. Businesses also make it tougher for themselves in retaining and recruiting the workers they need.