The U.S. Department of Labor has determined that Howard & Sons Inc., a roofing and painting contractor based in San Bernardino, violated federal wage laws by not paying 62 employees for all hours worked. The department's Wage and Hour Division found that the company did not account for time spent by employees collecting and returning supplies, working beyond scheduled hours, or working on Saturdays. This resulted in violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) due to inaccurate record-keeping.
Howard & Sons Inc. is required to pay $267,177 in back wages to the affected employees. Additionally, the company faces a $53,010 civil penalty for the willful nature of these violations. Assistant District Director Rafael Valles from West Covina emphasized that employers must track all hours worked by their employees and compensate them accordingly.
Howard & Sons Inc., which offers residential and industrial services with offices in San Bernardino and San Diego, was found lacking in its adherence to FLSA regulations regarding employee compensation. The U.S. Department of Labor encourages employers to use its compliance assistance resources and toolkits to better understand their obligations under labor laws.
For more information about wage claims or compliance assistance, employers and workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). The division also provides an app for tracking work hours available on Android and iOS devices.
