A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that
Endemol Latino NA, a TV production company in Miami, owes $70,341 in back wages
to 82 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act
(FLSA).
Endemol Latino NA, which does business as
Endemol Shine North America, committed violations by inaccurately classifying
some employees as salaried exempt, and paying them a set salary without additional overtime compensation when they worked more
than 40 hours per week. Additionally, Endemol Latino NA failed to pay other
employees for all hours worked, resulting in additional violations for not
paying time-and-one-half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The company
also failed to maintain the required records of hours worked.
“Employers must understand their obligations
and responsibilities under the law. Simply because a pay practice may appear to
be common does not, in any way, mean that it complies with the law,” said Tony
Pham, District Director in Miami. “The U.S. Department of Labor encourages all
employers to make use of the many tools it provides to help them understand and
comply with the law, and to call us for assistance.”
