The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has imposed a fine of $438,625 on a Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility in Alabama for violations related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The fine pertains to back wages owed after two workers were dismissed following their requests for FMLA leave. The total amount also includes liquidated damages and unpaid bonuses as part of the recovered compensation.
According to a DOL news release, an investigation was conducted by the department’s Wage and Hour Division into Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., regarding the incident. In one instance, a production worker had requested FMLA-protected leave due to a personal health condition, while in another case, an employee sought leave to care for a family member with a qualifying health condition.
Wage and Hour Division District Director Kenneth Stripling stated, "Employers cannot deprive eligible workers of their legal right to family and medical leave and force them to make the hard choice between keeping their jobs and caring for themselves or their families." He added that federal law provides critically needed workplace flexibilities precisely when employees need them most. Stripling emphasized that the U.S. Department of Labor will defend workers' rights and pursue all available remedies when those rights are violated.
Furthermore, according to the news release, it was found that the Mercedes-Benz plant had penalized workers and denied monthly attendance bonuses linked to personal absences. In one case, an employee was dismissed due to Mercedes-Benz's attendance point system, despite being covered by FMLA-protected leave. As a result of their investigation, which included unpaid bonuses and front pay for three months, the DOL recovered $219,313 for the former workers. An additional $219,312 accounted for liquidated damages incurred by these former employees.
The news release also indicated that in fiscal year 2023, the Wage and Hour Division recovered over $987,000 in back wages for 395 workers, following 334 FMLA compliance actions with violations.
