Monday, August 22, 2016

Unique Custom Exteriors, a Salt Lake City construction contractor, pays $63K in unpaid overtime, damages to 27 employees after US Labor Department investigation

Unique Custom Exteriors, a Salt Lake City construction contractor, pays $63K in unpaid overtime, damages to 27 employees after US Labor Department investigation


Employer: Unique Custom Exteriors

Site: 9326 South Hawley Park Road #A, West Jordan, Utah 84088

Investigation Findings: A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found Unique Custom Exteriors violated the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The investigation by the division’s Salt Lake City District Office revealed the employer failed to pay for all of the overtime hours employees worked. Specifically, the employer reduced the total number of overtime hours worked by one-third on the payroll.

Resolution: The construction contractor paid $31,833 in back wages for unpaid overtime and an equal amount in liquidated damages, for a total of $63,666 to 27 employees. The company agreed also to comply with all provisions of the FLSA in the future.

Quote: “Construction workers have some of the toughest jobs in the country,” said Betty Campbell, regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division in the Southwest. “Often doing hard work in harsh conditions, these employees deserve to be paid for all the time they spend working, including overtime. Reducing the number of overtime hours worked by one third essentially eliminates the time-and-one half premium for those hours that the law requires. The resolution of this case demonstrates that the division will root out and remedy these violations, protecting the workers and leveling the playing field for contractors who play by the rules.”

Background: Unique Custom Exteriors specializes in stucco and other exterior surfaces on residential and commercial properties.

Information: For more information about federal wage laws, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or its Salt Lake City District Office at 801 524-5706. Information is also available at http://www.dol.gov/whd/.
WHD News Brief:
08/22/2016