Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) News

Added Protection or Opportunity Lost? New Independent Contractor Rule Issued

The U.S. Department of Labor on Jan. 9 issued a final rule, more than a year in the making, on the definition of an independent contractor. First proposed in October 2022, the rule provides guidance to employers in determining if …

Long Island Company Owes $252K for Back Pay, Damages

A awnings company based in Long Island and its owner will pay $252,370 in back wages and damages to nearly three dozen workers who were denied overtime wages over a three-year period, after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation. A …

Plumbing Supply Firm Fights Sales Reps’ Court Award of $3.2M Overtime Wages

The U.S. Department of Labor expects to recover more than $3.2 million in overtime back wages for more than 700 inside sales representatives of the F.W. Webb plumbing supply company. DOL has accused F.W. Webb of misclassifying its inside sales …

Subway Restaurant Franchise in Manhattan Pays for Wage Violations, Retaliatory Firing

The operator of a Subway restaurant franchise in Manhattan’s Lower East Side who the Department of Labor said fired an employee during its investigation has paid damages to the employee and back pay to 18 employees, the department’s wage and …

Virginia Healthcare Firm Ordered to Pay $703K for Overtime Pay, Retaliation, Damages

The U.S. Department of Labor reported that it has obtained a default judgment to recover $703,609 in back wages and liquidated damages for 38 employees denied overtime pay by a Chesapeake, Virginia home healthcare company and its owner who officials …

3 Bakeries Ordered to Pay $1M in Back Wages, Damages to 74 Employees

The U.S. Department of Labor said it has obtained a federal court order requiring that three bakeries located in Danbury, Connecticut, and Mount Vernon, New York, and their owner/officer, pay nearly $1 million in back wages and damages to 74 …

Labor Board to Expand Companies’ ‘Joint Employer’ Liability

A U.S. labor board on Tuesday moved to make it easier for workers and unions to hold companies liable for labor law violations by their franchisees and contractors, proposing to revive an Obama-era standard heavily criticized by trade groups. The …

Judge Reinstates Trump Independent Contractor Rule Withdrawn by Biden

A federal judge in Texas has nixed the Biden Department of Labor’s withdrawal of a Trump administration rule governing whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. U.S. District Court Judge Marcia A. Crone reinstated the Trump independent …

Judge: Minor Leaguers Work Year-Round, MLB Violated Wage Law

A federal judge ruled that minor leaguers are year-round employees who work during training time and found Major League Baseball violated Arizona state minimum wage law and is liable for triple damages. Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero in San …

Union Sues to Overturn Trump-Era Rule that Narrowed Definition of ‘Joint Employer’

The union behind the “Fight for $15” movement is suing to overturn a Trump-era rule that makes it harder to hold companies like McDonald’s Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. accountable for violations of franchised or sub-contracted workers’ rights. In a lawsuit …