Feds recover $112K in unpaid overtime, damages for Detroit law firm employees

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found Detroit law firm McKeen & Associates P.C. violated overtime rules.

In the investigation, the department recovered $112,000 in overtime back wages and damages for 36 members of its administrative and support staff.

“Our investigation of McKeen & Associates found the firm systemically violated overtime regulations by misapplying overtime rules to avoid paying salaried workers the overtime pay they were due,” said Timolin Mitchell, Detroit’s wage and hour district, in a news release.

The law firm declined to provide an immediate comment.

McKeen & Associates P.C. specializes in personal injury cases, and its office is located in the Penobscot Building in downtown Detroit.

The firm paid the 36 employees their salary, but failed to pay them the overtime they earned under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the release said.

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The FLSA requires that most employees in the country be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked, and receive overtime pay of at least time and one-half the required rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a work week.

“Overtime violations are among the most common found by the agency, and they are easily avoidable,” Mitchell said. “We encourage employers to use our online tools or contact the Wage and Hour Division with questions to ensure they are paying workers all of their rightful wages and prevent costly penalties for violating the law.”

Contact Emma Stein: [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Feds: Detroit firm McKeen & Associates didn’t pay employee overtime

Feds recover $112K in unpaid overtime, damages for Detroit law firm employees

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found Detroit law firm McKeen & Associates P.C. violated overtime rules.

In the investigation, the department recovered $112,000 in overtime back wages and damages for 36 members of its administrative and support staff.

“Our investigation of McKeen & Associates found the firm systemically violated overtime regulations by misapplying overtime rules to avoid paying salaried workers the overtime pay they were due,” said Timolin Mitchell, Detroit’s wage and hour district, in a news release.

The law firm declined to provide an immediate comment.

McKeen & Associates P.C. specializes in personal injury cases, and its office is located in the Penobscot Building in downtown Detroit.

The firm paid the 36 employees their salary, but failed to pay them the overtime they earned under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the release said.

More: Whitmer kidnap plot trial: What we know about jurors deciding historic verdict

More: Redford Democrat charged on drunken driving allegation, did not inform speaker of arrest

The FLSA requires that most employees in the country be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked, and receive overtime pay of at least time and one-half the required rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a work week.

“Overtime violations are among the most common found by the agency, and they are easily avoidable,” Mitchell said. “We encourage employers to use our online tools or contact the Wage and Hour Division with questions to ensure they are paying workers all of their rightful wages and prevent costly penalties for violating the law.”

Contact Emma Stein: [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Feds: Detroit firm McKeen & Associates didn’t pay employee overtime