Six gas station owners in New Jersey recently agreed to pay 27 of their employees almost $500,000 in damages and back pay to resolve claims that their employers violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The United States Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division states that the gas station owners paid their employees a flat salary every month between $2,200 and $2,400, which violated the FLSA’s record-keeping, minimum wage and overtime requirements.
During the Department of Labor’s investigation, they found that the employees worked 70 hours per week on average, and we not paid premium pay for their time spent working overtime. They also found that the employers failed to maintain payroll and time records.
"Not paying employees the wages they've earned seriously impacts low-wage employees, such as gas station attendants, causing them hardships as they try to support themselves and their families," Charlene Rachor, director of the Wage and Hour Division's Southern New Jersey District Office, said in a statement.
Gas stations in Oregon and New Jersey are required to employ full-service gas station attendants to provide customer-related services and operate the station’s gas pumps due to the fact that state laws prevent motorists from pumping gas themselves.
"The U.S. Department of Labor remains focused on New Jersey's gas stations to determine if FLSA violations exist. If violations are found, we will vigorously pursue corrective action to ensure accountability, deter future violations and prevent violators from gaining a competitive advantage," Rachor said.
If you are looking to hire an experienced and dedicated legal team to help you secure the compensation you deserve, contact our Houston FLSA attorneys at Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC today. We have significant experience handling these types of cases around the United States, and will work with you to put together a plan of action that best suits your needs. Call us to explain your situation over the phone, or schedule a free consultation by sending us the details of your case through our online form.
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