HOBOKEN, NJ — A New Jersey farm recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company violated several provisions of federal labor and wage laws by failing to pay overtime wages to several workers. As part of the agreement, Ringoes-based Mavrode Farms LLC will pay back a combined $76,374 in back pay and damages to 13 current and former workers as well as a separate $2,633 to the federal government for the violations.
An investigation by the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Mavrode Farms violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) when it failed to adhere to the law’s overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping provisions. The Wage and Hour Division found that the company paid its workers on a piecesmeal rate based on how much the workers harvested, regardless of the amount of time the individual put into the job.
As a result, the workers earned less than minimum wage when their pay was averaged out by their total hours spent on the job. Furthermore, the company failed to pay workers one and a half times the individual’s average hourly rate of pay when working more than 40 hours in a week. Mavrode Farms also violated the recordkeeping provisions of the FLSA by failing to record all of the workers’ hours worked and pay earned.
“As a result of this investigation, Mavrode Farms’ employees will receive the wages they are owed and will be provided with safe housing,” said Charlene Rachor, Wage and Hour Division Southern New Jersey District Office Director. “Employers can avoid violations by reaching out to us for assistance to ensure they are in compliance with the law. We offer a wide variety of tools for employers, including many specific to the requirements for those in agricultural industries.”
While the federal government does its best to protect the rights of workers, it cannot intervene in every instance of wage theft. Fortunately, the FLSA gives workers the right to hire an experienced overtime pay attorney to recover their back pay and damages.
Farm 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.