Department of Labor recovers $538K in back wages, damages from Maryland residential rehabilitation provider for 37 landscaping workers denied full pay

Department of Labor recovers $538K in back wages, damages from Maryland residential rehabilitation provider for 37 landscaping workers denied full payEmployer:                  Divine Connect Care Inc.Location:                    3311 Toledo TerraceHyattsville, MD 20782Investigation findings:   Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined that the adult rehabilitation provider failed to pay non-exempt direct support staff the required overtime premium for all hours over 40 in a workweek. In addition, they failed to pay one employee for all hours worked as well as neglected to record total worked hours and rates of pay on time and payroll records, respectively. These actions violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.Recovered: $269,321 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for 37 employees.Quote: “Our investigators found Divine Connect Care failed to pay dozens of employees all of their legally earned wages,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director John L. DuMont in Pittsburgh. “Direct support staff, like in-home care workers, deserve to be paid every dollar they’re owed. The Department of Labor is determined to act on their behalf when employers fail to meet their obligations.” For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.