HONOLULU, HI — A Hawaii property management company recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company failed to pay overtime to several of its workers, a violation of federal labor and wage laws. Under the terms of the settlement, Kihei-based Piilani Gardens LLC will pay a combined $84,136 in overtime back wages to 22 employees performing maintenance and landscaping activities on Maui to resolve federal overtime pay and record keeping violations.
An investigation by the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Piilani Gardens paid employees who resided at the complex straight-time pay rates when working more than 40 hours in a week, instead of one and a half times their average hourly rate of pay. Furthermore, the company exceeded legal limits to a credit it claimed toward its payroll obligations for providing housing to employees.
“The resolution of this case protects workers and helps level the playing field so that employers that follow the rules do not face unfair competition,” said Division District Director Terence Trotter, in Honolulu. “We urge all employers to use the many tools our agency offers to avoid violations and to comply with the law.”
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), companies must pay hourly non-overtime exempt workers time and a half when working above the overtime threshold. Additionally, companies have a legal obligation to provide workers with accurate wage statements detailing all their hours worked and wages earned each pay period. Businesses that violate the FLSA may be subject to federal investigations or civil lawsuits brought by the wage theft victims themselves.
The FLSA gives workers the right to hire their own private overtime pay attorneys to file lawsuits in federal court to recover back pay, damages equal to unpaid earnings, attorneys fees, and court costs to cover the lawsuit. In some cases, courts may even impose injunctions on companies to make sure future wage theft does not take place.
Property Manager 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.