HOUSTON – After severe weather and other natural calamities, the U.S. Department of Labor is urging employers involved in debris clearance, home repair, and disaster recovery services to adhere to federal wage regulations. The department highlights its resources designed to prevent wage violations.
“Workers are especially vulnerable after communities are impacted by severe weather or disasters, and once the worst is over, the U.S. Department of Labor moves quickly to protect the rights of workers to be paid their full, legally earned wages,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director Chad Frasier in Houston. “We also stand ready — long before and after the damage is done — to equip employers with the information and guidance needed to avoid the sometimes costly consequences for employers who fail to comply with the law.”
Recent storms in the Houston area underscore the importance of using the Wage and Hour Division’s Natural Disaster Compliance Assistance Toolkit. This toolkit provides downloadable information on avoiding Fair Labor Standards Act violations, focusing on common infractions in disaster recovery efforts. Investigators frequently find issues such as improper payment of minimum wage, overtime, prevailing wages, misclassification of employees as independent contractors, incomplete payroll records, and illegal use of child labor.
Employees engaged in storm and disaster recovery who have not been fully compensated can contact the division confidentially at 1-866-4-US-WAGE (487-9243). The division offers protection regardless of immigration status and communicates in more than 200 languages. Further details on contacting the division or filing a complaint are available.
The agency also recommends downloading its new Timesheet App—available in English and Spanish for Android and Apple devices—to ensure accurate tracking of hours worked and pay received.
