Category Archives: Wage and Hour

Administrative Law Judge Approves $249,000 Wage And Hour Settlement; Denial Of Pay And Guest Worker Violations
On March 10th, 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed that an administrative judge has approved a proposed settlement in a wage and hour and employment law violation case. Jose M. Gracia Harvesting Inc.—an agricultural labor contractor based in Polk County, Florida—has agreed to pay nearly $250,000 to resolve the matter. In this article,… Read More »

DOL Cities Florida Employer For Labor Violations (Failure To Reimburse Fees)
On March 31st, 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) cited an employer in Florida for wage and hour violations. The DOL assessed a $37,000 civil penalty and recovered nearly $10,000 in back wages for the affected workers. The enforcement action pertains to the company’s failure to properly reimburse nonimmigrant guest workers for certain fees…. Read More »

DOL Recovers $105,000 On Behalf Of Employees From Florida Health Care Provider That Violated Overtime Laws
On January 4th, 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the recovery of $105,000 in unpaid overtime on behalf of several dozen employees in Florida. The DOL determined that HealthPlan Services Inc.—a medical industry benefits management company based in East Lake-Orient Park, Florida—failed to properly compensate employees for pre-shift work and did not count… Read More »

DOL Recovers Nearly $50,000 In Back Wages On Behalf Of Florida Restaurant Workers
On February 4th, 2022, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed that $47,088 has been recovered in back wages for approximately 30 restaurant workers. The DOL determined that Mezcal Mexican Grill—a restaurant based in Miramar Beach, Florida—failed to pay bartenders and servers their proper overtime wages. Notably, a staffing company was also deemed… Read More »

DOL Recovers Back Wages On Behalf Of Employees After Florida Restaurant Improperly Retained Tips
On February 10th, 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the successful recovery of nearly $30,00 in unpaid wages for a group of restaurant workers in northeastern Florida. The restaurant allegedly denied employees a portion of their tips. Below, you will find an overview of the DOL’s enforcement action and the regulations regarding retained… Read More »

DOL Releases Final Rule For Tipped Workers—Officially Withdraws 2020 Regulation
On October 28th, 2021, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced its final rule regarding the amount of time that tipped workers can spend in non-tipped activities. By doing so, the DOL officially withdrew a tipped worker final rule that was issued in the waning days of the Trump Administration. The new regulations… Read More »

DOL Secures More Than $46,000 In Back Pay For Florida Roofing Workers
On November 8th, 2021, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department or Labor (DOL) found that a North Florida roofing contractor must pay $46,302 in back pay to 29 employees who were improperly denied their full and fair wages for required pre-shift and post-shift work. Additionally, the employer was also cited for… Read More »

Wage And Hour Laws In Florida: What To Know About The State’s Paycheck Deduction Laws
Workers are the backbone of our economy. All employees must be paid fairly, in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws. This raises an important question: Can an employer deduct wages from an employee’s check in Florida? The answer is ‘yes’—as Florida has no dedicated state paycheck deduction law, employers must comply with… Read More »

DOL Is Reviving 80/20 Rule For Tipped Employees: What It Means
In June, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) published an official Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the federal register. In doing so, the Biden Administration is reversing policy and reviving the so-called ‘80/20 rule’ for tipped employees. In this blog post, you will find an overview of the most important things to know… Read More »

Florida’s State Minimum Wage Is Rising (September 30th, 2021): A Guide To Your Rights
In November, Florida voters adopted an increase to the state’s minimum wage. Under the law and enabling legislation, the state’s minimum wages will increase from the current rate of $8.65 per hour to $15.00 by 2026. This will happen in incremental increases, one is starting soon. On September 30th, 2021 the Florida minimum wage… Read More »