Archive for July 2009
Many Landscaping Companies Violate Wage Laws
Some landscaping companies try to avoid overtime pay by paying their workers a piece rate for removing landscaping, but fail to pay their workers overtime when they exceed for 40 hours in a week. For example, one landscaping company was required to pay $52,240 in back wages and penalties following a determination by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division that company violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) buy using such a piece rate pay…
Read MoreImmigrant Wage Theft
All covered employees, whether working legally or illegally, and regardless of his or her immigration status, are entitled to be paid the minimum wage and overtime. Wage theft from undocumented workers is common, especially in workplaces such as construction sites, nail salons, and restaurants that are largely staffed by immigrant workers. The Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits employers from retaliating against their employees for asserting their right to their wages. Threats to turn over employees to U.S. Immigration and Customs…
Read MoreNew Federal Minimum Wage Increase
On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25. This increase has taken place incrementally over a two year period. State and local governments can require higher wages be paid to employees within their boundaries. Since Florida’s minimum wage was less than $7.25 per hour, the new hirer federal minimum wage will have the effect of increasing the Florida minimum to $7.25 per hour until the next annual increase in the Florida minimum wage when it adjusted for…
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