The U.S. Department of Labor has successfully recovered $319,065 in back wages for 49 workers who were employed by a landscaping company in New Orleans. These employees were misclassified as independent contractors by Pfefferle Lawns, which led to them being denied overtime pay.

An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that Pfefferle Lawns had violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company failed to pay overtime at the required rate of time and one-half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek and did not maintain accurate records.

"Misclassification of employees as independent contractors is not legal or fair. It deprives workers of their hard-earned wages, benefits, and protections," stated Troy Mouton, District Director of the Wage and Hour Division in New Orleans. "Companies that misclassify employees also usually deny them workplace rights and benefits, including overtime pay, and they also enjoy an unfair competitive advantage over other companies that comply with law."

The Wage and Hour Division offers a Workers Owed Wages search tool to help individuals check if they are owed back wages collected by the division. Both employers and workers can contact the division confidentially through its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE (487-9243), for assistance regardless of their location. The division can communicate with callers in more than 200 languages. To ensure accuracy in hours worked and pay, both workers and employers are encouraged to download the department’s Timesheet App available for Android and iOS devices in English or Spanish.