Thursday, September 8, 2016

More than 800 Central Florida hotel workers to share $133K in back wages after US Labor Department investigates APDC Services Inc., a Kissimmee, Florida staffing agency

More than 800 Central Florida hotel workers to share $133K in back wages after US Labor Department investigates Kissimmee staffing agency
APDC Services violated overtime laws, assessed $57K in penalties for repeated violations


Employer name: APDC Services Inc., 3059 Michigan Ave., Kissimmee, Florida 34744

Investigation sites:

  • 1850 Hotel Plaza Blvd., Lake Buena Vista 32830
  • 8451 Palm Parkway, Orlando 32836
  • 1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd., Lake Buena Vista 32830
  • 12007 Cypress Run Road, Orlando 32836
  • 10000 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando 32819
  • 4593 Gathering Drive, Kissimmee 34747
  • 6145 Carrier Drive, Orlando 32189

Investigation findings: Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that the Kissimmee-based staffing agency violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The agency, which provides workers to the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, B Resort & Spa, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Palace Resort, Legacy Vacation Club, Reunion Resort and the Westgate Blue Tree Resort, paid hourly employees straight time for their overtime hours. The company also failed to maintain time and payroll records.

Resolution: APDC will pay a total of $133,778 in back wages to 811 workers and comply with the FLSA in the future. The agency also signed an agreement with the department to amend all of their contracts with hotels to include language to cover their obligations under the FLSA. Contracts will expressly state that the staffing agency will bill client hotels, and employees will be paid, time and one-half for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. The division also assessed $57,145 in civil money penalties for APDC’s repeated violations after having found similar violations in prior investigations of this employer.

Quote: “Staffing agencies, like all employers, must pay employees working on their behalf the hard-earned wages to which they are entitled to by law,” said Daniel White, district director for the Wage and Hour Division in Jacksonville. “Workers in the hospitality industry are among the most vulnerable that we see. The back wages and penalties collected in this case demonstrate the Wage and Hour Division’s commitment to protecting these workers, and to preventing employers from gaining an unfair competition advantage by skirting the law.”

Information: For more information about the FLSA and wage laws or to file a complaint, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243); the Jacksonville District Office at 904-359-9292 or visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/.
WHD News Brief:
09/08/2016