MARIETTA, GA — A Georgia hotel company recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company underpaid several members of its staff when it did not pay the group for their overtime work. As part of the agreement, Marietta-based Swami Hospitality Corp. Super 8 Hotel will pay 14 workers a combined $73,732 in back wages and liquidated damages for violating several provisions of federal labor and wage laws.
An investigation by the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that two of Swami Hospitality Corp’s locations underpaid its housekeepers by compensating these individuals based on how many rooms were cleaned instead of an hourly wage. As a result, the employees frequently earned less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and were denied overtime pay as required under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
“Employers must understand their obligations and responsibilities under the law. Simply because a pay practice may appear to be common in a particular industry does not, in any way, mean that it complies with the law,” said Jeffrey Genkos, Wage and Hour Division District Director in Atlanta. “The Department of Labor encourages all employers to make use of the many tools the Department provides to help them understand and comply with the law, and to call us for assistance.”
The FLSA requires companies to pay all their non-overtime exempt workers earning an hourly wage at least the federal minimum wage or applicable state minimum wage, if the latter amount is higher. Furthermore, the FLSA requires these same employees earn at least one and a half times their average hourly rate of pay when working more than 40 hours per week.
While federal investigators cannot look into each and every instance of wage theft, the FLSA does gives workers the right to hire a private attorney to file their own claims in federal court. Wage theft victims can recover their back pay, damages, and attorneys fees to cover the cost of litigation.
Hotel Worker Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
Call (855) 754-2795 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page if you feel that your wage rights are being violated under the FLSA. Our top-rated team of unpaid wage lawyers will evaluate your situation to determine your best course of action to help you seek justice.
Our office will also determine if it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit against your employer. Because strict time limitations apply for filing these types of claims, we advise you contact our experienced unpaid overtime wage attorneys at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.