A federal court has ordered Detroit Body Guards Protection Unit LLC and its human resources director, Carla Bland, to pay a total of $68,063 in back wages, damages, and penalties. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan issued the consent judgment on November 26, 2024.

The decision resolves a complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Labor on December 13, 2023. The department's Wage and Hour Division conducted an investigation which revealed that from October 2021 through April 2022, some security guards were paid "straight time" for all hours worked, including overtime hours exceeding 40 per week. This practice violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as it failed to pay time and one-half their average hourly rate-of-pay.

Under the terms of the judgment, Detroit Body Guards Protection Unit LLC is required to pay $23,719 in back wages plus an equal amount in liquidated damages totaling $47,438. In addition to this amount, civil money penalties amounting to $20,625 were assessed due to willful violations of FLSA regulations.

The company had previously been investigated in 2019 for similar wage violations occurring from August through October that year. “There are specific salary and duty tests that must be met for an employee to be exempt from overtime," stated Timolin Mitchell, Wage and Hour District Director in Detroit. He added that both Detroit Body Guards Protection Unit LLC and Carla Bland should have been aware they were violating federal law due to prior investigations.

Christine Heri, Regional Solicitor in Chicago emphasized that "complying with federal wage laws is not an option." She affirmed the Department of Labor's commitment to holding employers accountable for FLSA violations.

Detroit Body Guards Protection Unit LLC provides armed guard services primarily for recreational and medicinal marijuana dispensaries around metropolitan Detroit.

For further information about filing complaints or assistance with compliance issues related to wage laws enforced by the division or learning more about back wages collected by them can call at their toll-free helpline or use available online tools offered by DOL’s Wage & Hour Division website.