Rhode Island Firm Pays $80,000 in Back Wages

Allied Landscape Management of East Providence has paid $80,000 in overtime back wages to 34 employees following a federal Department of Labor investigation into possible violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

The investigation found that employees in the landscaping firm had been improperly listed as independent workers for at least two years and had not received the overtime premium for time over 40 hours worked in a work week. Over a period of at least two years, workers instead were paid straight time for all hours worked.

The FSLA requires employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage and that workers be paid one-and-a-half times their regular rate for time over 40 hours worked per week.

After the investigation, Allied Landscape Management agreed to comply with the law and pay the back wages due. the DOL said in a release.