Overtime-pay accounting fails materials testing firm

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor; CP staff

Louisiana Testing and Inspection Inc. has entered an agreement with the Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division to resolve violations of Fair Labor Standards Act overtime and recordkeeping provisions. The Scott, La., concrete and soils specialist will pay $100,400 in back wages; an equal, additional amount in liquidated damages; plus $10,800 in civil penalties.

A Wage and Hour investigation revealed falsified payroll records purportedly reflecting payment of time-and-one-half workers’ regular wages for overtime hours. Investigators found that the employer paid employees for only two-thirds of the overtime hours, effectively resulting in straight-time rates for all overtime hours worked.