PORTLAND — PR Drywall LLC, a Hillsboro, Oregon, drywall company will pay seven of its employees more than $98,000 in back wages. PR Drywall is a subcontractor hired for a construction project that received federal financing in Tualatin, Oregon. The company was found to have violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other federal regulations related to federally funded projects when it failed to pay its drywall employees prevailing wages and proper overtime. Of the $98,000 PR Drywall will pay, $89,525 is for the prevailing wage violations and $8,557 is for overtime violations.
The Drywall Claim
The seven drywall employees sharing in the $98,000 worked as “tapers,” or drywall finishers, for PR Drywall from November 2013 to April 2014. The company was hired as a subcontractor in the construction of the Marquis Assisted Living Center. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigated allegations that PR Drywall was not paying its tapers the prevailing wage rates required under federal law.
The DOL found evidence that not only were the tapers not receiving the prevailing wage to which they were entitled, they were also not receiving proper overtime pay. The investigation found that the tapers would work more than 40 hours in a workweek, but would not receive overtime pay for the additional hours they worked. Even if the company had paid its tapers overtime, it would likely still have been found to have violated labor laws because it failed to pay prevailing wages. Since the tapers were not receiving the proper hourly wages, any overtime pay they may have received would not have been calculated at the proper one and a half times their hourly rate.
Prevailing Wages and Overtime
A prevailing wage is a wage set for a specific industry and job classification in each state, and sometimes within each county, which becomes the minimum wage for that industry. There are typically two prevailing wages for each industry: one wage that accounts for fringe benefits and one wage that does not include them. Prevailing wages are determined by the DOL and based on the average wages and fringe benefits offered within an industry in a specific area. Once a prevailing wage is set, particularly if the project receives federal funding, an employer must pay its employees at least the prevailing wage.
If you are employed in the construction or public works field and work on a federally funded project, but do not believe you are receiving the prevailing wage or overtime pay contact our overtime pay lawyers today. Time is limited for filing wage and overtime complaints so it is important to call today! Our knowledgeable team of overtime pay lawyers can be reached at (855) 754-2795. Or complete our Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form and our experienced legal team will evaluate your claim. If we accept your case, we will represent you under our No Fee Promise. This means there are no legal fees or costs unless you receive a settlement.