New Family Medical Leave Act Has Been Updated January 28th, 2008

The New Family Medical Leave Act titled Military Family Leave Notice has been signed into law H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (NDAA) by President Bush, and became effective January 28, 2008
This new law provides eligible employees working for covered employers two important new leave rights related to military service:

(1) Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave for any qualifying exigency arising out of the covered family member’s active duty,

(2) Eligible employees are entitled up to 26 weeks of leave in a single 12-month period to care for the covered service member who is recovering from a serious illness or injury. The employee is entitled to a combined total of 26 weeks of all types of FMLA leave.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) only applies to employers who employ 50 or more employees for each working day in the current or previous year. (The 50 employee threshold includes both full-time employees and part-time employees.)

This notice is strictly informational only and is NOT the final version of the revised Family Medical Leave poster. After review of the new law is complete, the current FMLA poster, titled “Your Rights under the Family and Medical Leave of 1993” will be revised by the responsible federal agency; that revision will become available sometime between April and July of 2008.

Montana’s Minimum Wage has increased in 2008

The minimum wage in Montana increased by 11 cents, from $6.15 to $6.25 per hour effective January 1, 2008

Under Initiative 151， adjustments are required to the minimum wage to be calculated before September 30 of each year based upon any increase in the U.S. City Average CPI for All Urban Consumers for All Items from August of the preceding year to August of the year in which the calculation is made. Based on an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 1.97% from August 2006 to August 2007, the calculation used for determining the minimum wage for 2008 is $6.15 X .0197 -- $0.1211, rounded to $0.10.

Tipped employees must be paid the full minimum wage of $6.25 per hour in Montana. Businesses with revenues less than $110,000 per year in sales can still pay employees $4.00 per hour.

On July 24, 2008 the federal minimum wage will increase by 70 cents from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour, witch is higher than 2008 Montana minimum wage of $6.25 so the state minimum wage will also increase to $6.55 per hour then.

Nevada’s Minimum Wage will increase to $7.03 per hour in 2008

On July 1, 2008, 70 cents (the difference between the old and new federal minimum wage) will be added to both Nevada minimum wages. This will cause the lower Nevada wage to rise to $6.00 (with a plan) and $7.03 (without a plan).

On July 1, 2009, the minimum wage in the state of Nevada will increase again, to $6.70 (with plan) and $7.73 (without plan).

Nevada’s minimum wages will continue to increase annually. Any adjustment to the state minimum wages will take effect on July 1 of that year.

Minimum wage of Nevada, along with that of Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, and Ohio will be adjusted by inflation annually, and in Nevada, the minimum must also remain at least $1 above the federal rate.

Nevada is also one of the seven states (along with Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon and Washington) that require employers to pay tip workers the same minimum wage as other workers.

New Hampshire’s Minimum Wage will increase to $7.25 in 2008

The minimum wage in New Hampshire will increase to $7.25 per hour on September 1, 2008.

On September 1, 2007, the minimum wage in the state of New Hampshire increased form the original $5.85 per hour to $6.50 per hour after a decade without a raise. But that was only the first step of the minimum wage increase plan in that state according to the law signed by the New Hampshire’s Governor John Lynch on May 3, which marked the first New Hampshire minimum wage increase since 1997. The other step is to increase the minimum wage for many of the state's hourly workers from $6.50 per hour to $7.25 per hour on September 1,2008. The minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum wage rate.

Massachusetts’ Minimum Wage Increased To $8.00 Per Hour In 2008

The state of Massachusetts has increased its minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $8.00 per hour, 50 cents’ increases per hour, effective January 1, 2008.

With this increase, Massachusetts has become the state of the second highest minimum wage in the country in 2008, following the state of Washington which minimum wage is $8.07 per hour.

The new minimum wage does not apply to all employees. For those tipped employees, they could receive the minimum wage of $2.63 per hour; and for agricultural workers, $1.60 per hour’s minimum wage could be paid.

However, according to the Massachusetts Legislature, further minimum wage increases will be necessary in the near future for the annual cost of living adjustments because of the real purchasing power.

Ohio’s Minimum Wage Increased to $7 Per Hour

The Ohio Department of Commerce had calculated the inflation adjusted Ohio minimum wage for 2008. Beginning on January 1, 2008, the Ohio’s minimum wage for non-tipped employees increased from $6.85 by 2 percent, which equals to 15 cents, to $7 per hour and from $3.43 per hour to $3.50 per hour for tipped employees.

The constitutional amendment passed by voters in November 2006 states that Ohio’s minimum wage shall increase on January 1 of each year by the rate of inflation. The increase is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the prior 12-month period as of September 30.

The increased minimum wage will apply to employers who gross more than $255,000 per year. Currently, Ohio’s minimum wage applies to employers who gross over $250,000 per year.

New Mexico’s Minimum Wage Has Increased To $6.5 Per Hour

On January 1, 2008 the New Mexico state minimum wage has increased by 65 cents from $5.85 per hour to $6.50 per hour, which will increase again to $7.50 an hour on January 1, 2009. This is the second increase of minimum wage within 6 months in New Mexico. On July 24, 2007, the state minimum wage increased with the federal rate, from $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour. Thus, the total increase in New Mexico will reach $1.35 per hour, which is the largest in any state in 2008.

However, the increase of minimum wage does not apply to agricultural employees and tipped employees. Although the federal rate for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour and that in other states is somewhere from $2.23 to $8.07 per hour, the minimum wage for tipped employees in New Mexico remains one of the lowest rates in the nation, that is just $2.125 per hour.

Vermont's minimum wage has increased to $7.68 per hour

The minimum wage in Vermont has increased to $7.68 per hour from $7.53 per hour on January 1, 2008. The Vermont minimum wage law is set to increase every year at the same rate as the August Consumer Price Index (CPI)。

On January 1, 2008 the state minimum wage for tipped employees (who are working in the hotel, motel, tourist place and restaurant industry and can receive tips) has also increased, from $3.65 to $3.72 per hour – an increase of 7 cents. But if the tipped employees’ total earnings is less than $7.68 an hour, their employers must make up the difference between $3.72 per hour and $7.68 per hour in the tips they get from their customers.

Washington’s minimum wage has increased to $8.07 per hour

Washington’s hourly minimum wage has increased from $7.93 to $8.07, effective January 1st, 2008. According to the law, the state minimum wage must be adjusted each year complying with the change in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the 12 months ending each August 31.

The CPI-W is a national index covering the cost of goods and services needed for day-to-day living. This year, it increased 1.8 percent in the period and led to a 14-cent increase in next year's minimum wage, which equals to an increase from current $7.93 per hour to $8.07 per hour.

Iowa’s Minimum Wage Increased to $7.25 Per Hour in 2008

The state of Iowa has increased their minimum wage from $6.20 per hour to $7.25 per hour effective January 1, 2008.

The increase in the state minimum wage was approved by the Iowa Legislature and signed by Gov. Chet Culver last January.

Iowa’s lowest paid workers has gotten an increase of $2.10 per hour in the past year. For the tipped wait workers, their pay also increased from $1.26 an hour to $4.35 an hour with both pay increases last year.

Nearly 18 percent Iowans, mainly food service and retail workers, will benefit from the increase. Tom Shockley, one of the local businessman, said the biggest local impact will be to young workers 14 to 16 years old.

Strive For Increase In Alaska’s Minimum Wage

At the Capitol of Alaska, some lawmakers are striving for increasing the minimum wage of the workers of the lowest pay.

The federal government will increase the federal minimum wage from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour nationwide effectively July 24, 2009. Juneau’s lone senator, Kim Elton, sponsored the bill of raising the minimum wage to which is higher than the federal minimum wage: $8 or an hour minimum wage for keeping pace with the inflation.

Elton said there are about 14,000 Alaskan workers earning a minimum wage. “That is especially difficult because Juneau is one of the more expensive cities in Alaska, so the challenges they face are great,” he said.

Elton said he understood the concerns of the business community, but still thought the wage increase was necessary.

Florida’s Minimum Wage Increased to $6.79 Per Hour In 2008

The state of Florida has increased their minimum wage from $6.67 per hour to $6.79 per hour effective January 1, 2008. Florida’s lowest paid workers could get a slight increase of 12 cents per hour.

For a full-time job worker, the hourly 12 cents minimum wage increase means an increase of 1.8 percent annually over last year. For tipped employees, like restaurant servers, the minimum wage is also increased 12 cents and to the current $3.77 per hour.

The new state minimum wage increases in accordance with the consumer price. And the minimum wage only applies to those workers who are entitled to receive the federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

New Jersey’s Minimum Wage Should Be Increased to $8.25 Per Hour

The state of New Jersey’s current minimum wage is $7.15 per hour and it should be increased to $8.25 per hour. The minimum wage will increase annually in accordance with the increase in the cost of living and keep pace with inflation, a state commission has recommended.

The minimum wage increase would need the approval of the Legislature and Gov. Jon S. Corzine. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the minimum wage in New Jersey would be the highest in the nation.

New Jersey would be the 11th state to increase the minimum wage based on inflation rates. The states, such as Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, already have such a policy.

Florida’s Consumer Confidence Drops

The consumer confidence drops in December to the lowest level of 74 in more than five years in Florida. The jobs increased slowly in the state of Florida.

The economic report released by the state Agency for Workforce Innovation shows that the ranks of the unemployed statewide have increased 33.8% since last year, that’s 100,000. About one third of the unemployed spread in West Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The state unemployment rate was 4.3 percent last month, 0.1 percent higher than October. Florida has a lower jobless rate than the nation, which had a 4.7 percent unemployment rate in November. And now, umemployment is beginning to spread to banks, mortagage companies and other financial services.

California’s Minimum Wage Has Increased to $8.00 Per Hour in 2008

The state of California has increased their minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $8.00 per hour effective January 1, 2008. California has been the highest state minimum wage in the nation apart from the state of Massachusetts.

"This wage increase will benefit more than 1.4 million hard-working Californians. With this increase, we are demonstrating the value we attach to the work these employees provide to our state and its dynamic economy," said Department of Industrial Relations Director John Duncan.

The minimum wage increase also affects the hourly base rate of pay for workers in the computer software information technology industries. The hourly base rate effective Jan. 1, 2008 will be $36.

Colorado’s Minimum Wage Increased to $7.02 Per Hour in 2008

The state of Colorado has increased their minimum wage from $6.85 per hour to $7.02 per hour, effective January 1, 2008. The minimum wage will adjust in accordance with the increase of employees’ minimum wage and follow this, effective January 1, 2009. The state Department of Labor and Employment released the news.

In addition, the minimum wage for tipped employees, such as waiters in restaurants, has also increased from the wage of $3.83 per hour to $4 per hour.

"We're just giving a heads-up to businesses that the minimum wage will be going up. Many of them may not realize that minimum wage, which rose to $6.85 from $5.15 on Jan. 1, 2007, will be going up again in 2008," said Bill Thoennes, spokesman for the state labor department.

Oregon's Minimum Wage

Oregon's minimum wage, already among the nation's highest, will go up 15 cents to $7.95 an hour beginning in January 1st, 2008, announced on Wednesday by Dan Gardner, Oregon Labor Commissioner. That's two dollars more than the federal minimum wage, which is $5.85 and also slightly above the minimum wage in Washington State, which is $7.93.

The increase equals to about $30 more every month. Dan Gardner said “What you can do with $30 a month, if you’re a single mother for instance, is buy your kid a pair of shoes and a winter coat. And that’s what it amounts to to the worker.” Oregon's minimum wage law makes sure the workers with low income keep pace with the rising cost of living.

The increase follows passage of a 2002 ballot measure, which tied the wage to the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation. Oregon must recalculate the wage annually in September.

Recently the Congress raised the minimum wage to $5.85 per hour and states across the nation also have pushed up their minimum wages. About 17 states even have minimum wages higher than the federal rate.

Dan Gardner said that the 15 cents increase would make Oregon's minimum wage the third highest in the nation, slightly behind California and Massachusetts' minimums wage of $8 an hour. He also said that the state of Washington's minimum wage, currently at $7.93 per hour also is linked to the cost of living and is expected to remain the highest in the nation in 2008.

Central Florida Taco Bell provides training to employees after settling a harassment suit

A male employee of a Taco Bell in Polk County, who was sexually harassed by a female manager, will be paid $76,050 to settle his suit, the EEOC announced on August 14, 2007 .

This employee said he had been subjected to repeat physical and verbal sexual harassment, and he left the company after management took his complaints as jokes.

Taco Bell was also required to train all of its employees in Central Florida on its sexual harassment policies and to make semi-annual reports to the EEOC on any harassment complaints it receives.

Justice Department Sues Spartanburg County for Alleged Sex Discrimination

On Aug 14, 2007, The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Spartanburg County, South Carolina, alleging that the county discriminated against a county employee for her sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The government's complaint advocates that the county discriminated against the employee during her employment by the county's Department of Roads and Bridges as a senior sign technician. They put her into sexual harassment, thus created a hostile work environment, and they failed to take appropriate action to remedy the discrimination. The employee is no longer employed by the county.

In its complaint, the government now seeks, among other things, compensation to the employee for the county's discriminatory conduct as well as the implementation of county policies to address and prevent sexual harassment.

Mena Restaurant Settles sexual-harassment lawsuit

EEOC announced this week that a Mena-based Sonic Drive-In restaurant and its holding company agreed to pay $75,000 to settle a sexual-harassment lawsuit filed last year .

This lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith on May 2006. In this case, two women were subjected to sexual harassment by a night manager in the period of their employment at the Sonic. One of the women was a teenager at the time.

Sexual harassment violates Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Investment Holdings Inc. will pay totally $75,000 to the two female employees.

In addition, Mena SDI, doing business as Sonic Drive-In, will conduct training for all of its employees in order to prevent sexual harassment and retaliation, it also will post a notice reinforcing the company's policies on Title 7. All new employees will accept a similar training when hired, and the company will provide a copy of its sexual harassment policy to all employees.

R＆G FOODS WAS FINED FOR CHILD LABOR VIOLATION

On Tuesday,The U.S. Department of Labor announced that it has fined R&G Foods, the owner of Rex's Foodland grocery, $24,750 for allowing 20 children, some even as young as 15, to load and operate a paper baling machine which the department thought to be dangerous equipment. it is only can be operated by adults.

A manager was called by telephone at the grocery said Tuesday she was unaware of the fines, refused to give her name and hung up.

An investigation also found two workers under 16 worked longer hours than allowed.

teenagers may not work more than three hours on school days and eight hours on non-school days.

The grocery in Chapel Hill, about 40 miles south of Nashville, advocates on its Web site it aims to provide job opportunities for adults and "teens still in school that are interested in learning the business."

Fines for worker misclassification

A new law means fines for construction companies that inappropriately classify workers as independent contractors instead of regular employees, a practice condemned by labor unions because they say it deprives workers of benefits such as worker's compensation and unemployment.

"Misclassification of employees as independent contractors is one of the chief devices that greedy employers use to cheat workers out of their benefits," one official said.

Other states have addressed worker misclassification and Illinois is one of at least five states to pass a law.

Violations can cost a company up to $2,500.

Companies Pay More Than $1 Million in Back Wages

Stonington Behavioral Health Inc. and its parent companies have been ordered to pay more than $1 million in back wages to 143 employees and a $49,156 in civil penalties to resolve violations of FLSA overtime requirements.

Stonington Behavioral Health Inc. in North Stonington, doing business as Stonington Institute, and Pennsylvania-based parent companies Universal Health Services Inc. and UHS of Delaware Inc. were accused of paying employees less than the federal minimum and overtime wages.

Under the investigation, full-time employees who worked with substance-abuse patients routinely worked unpaid, unrecorded hours.

The companies will pay a total of $1,075,218 in back wages for the period between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2006. The back wage payments must be made no later than Sept. 5, 2007. The companies also have paid $49,156 in civil monetary penalties.

Latest Minimum Wage News

Nebraska has increased their Minimum Wage from $5.15 per to $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007. The minimum wage will increase to $6.55 a year later, and to $7.25 effective July 24, 2009.

Nevada has increased the current minimum wage of $5.15 per hour to $5.30 per hour for employers that offer health benefits, and $6.33 per hour for employer does not provide health benefits, effective July 1, 2007.

Oklahoma has increase the current minimum wage of $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007. A year later the hourly wage will increase to $6.55 and following this, another increase of $7.25 effective July 24, 2009.

Minimum Wage News, July 2007

Illinois has increased its minimum wage from $6.50 per hour to $7.50 per hour effective July 1, 2007. The increase will make Illinois' minimum wage the fourth highest in the country.

Pennsylvania has updated the training minimum wage for employers under 20 years old from $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007. Another increase to $6.55 per hour will take effect from July 24, 2008.

North Dakota has increased the current minimum wage of $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007. The minimum wage will increase to $6.55 a year later, and to $7.25 effective July 24, 2009.

New Hampshire has increased it minimum wage of $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007. The minimum wage will increase to $6.50 per hour effective September 1, 2007, 6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008, and $7.25 per hour effective September 1, 2008.

Westra Construction Pays $87,145.95 In Back Wages

Westra Construction, Inc. has agreed to pay $87,145.95 in back wages to forty-eight former employees.

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced this settlement.

The company was accused of closing the business without providing notice which is required by the law. According to Wisconsin law, wages earned must be paid and notice must be given when a plant closes.

Watertown plant was found violated the state's wages payable law and business closing notification law when it ceased operating in April 2005.

Meat Company Pays $1.3 Million In Back Wages

Hatfield Quality Meats, a meat supplier based in Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $1.3 million in back wages to over 1,500 current and former employees.

The company was cited by US Labor Department for failing to pay workers for the time they spent putting on and taking off company-mandated protective clothes.

According to U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005, workers should be compensated for time spent putting on protective gear to perform their jobs.

The settlement covers employees between March 2000 and May 2006, and more than 1500 employees will get their back wages based on their employment length.

Federal Minimum Wage To Increase

Congress approved an increase in federal minimum wage for nearly a decade on May 24.

It would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 in three stages over two years. The bill includes $4.84 billion in tax breaks for small businesses.

The proposal to raise the federal minimum wage was attached to the $120 billion Iraq war-spending bill, which was vetoed by White House on May 1. The bill was rewritten, and passed both in the House and Senate. In a White House news conference Thursday, President Bush said he would sign the bill.

Workers earned federal minimum wage will get the first raise to $5.85 an hour, 60 days after the measure is signed by Bush. A year later, the minimum wage would rise to $6.55 an hour, and to $7.25 a year after that.

D&J Enterprises Agreed To Pay 847,216 in Back Wages

D&J Enterprises has reached an agreement with Department of Labor that it would pay 239 employees $847,216 in back wages for work performed during the Hurricane Katrina cleanup in southern Mississippi.

The company was cited by US Labor Department for failing to pay the prevailing wage rate and fringe benefits and the required overtime under a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleanup contract.

According to a statement released by DOL, D&J Enterprises was found failed to pay workers as required by federal law for work performed between September 2005 and September 2006.

The company has cooperated with the Wage and Hour Division to make sure all workers get their back wages.

D&J is one of Auburn's top paving contractors with over 250 employees.

Government Pays $40.5 Million to Nuclear Workers for Compensation

The US government has agreed to pay Pennsylvania workers $40.5 million in compensation.

Over 2,000 Pennsylvania workers claimed they were sick because of the work they did in nuclear weapons facilities, and 374 have been paid.

$900,000 was paid to 11 claims in Aliquippa and $575,000 was paid to 4 claims in Shippingport.

Other workers are still waiting for their compensation.

Cisco Accused of Racial Bias

Cisco, the world's largest networking equipment maker, has been accused of racial discrimination against minority job applicants.

Four African-American and one Asian American complained to EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) that they were denied sales positions because of their race, and less-qualified white applicants get the jobs.

EEOC has determined Cisco "demonstrated an ongoing pattern and practice of not hiring qualified minority candidates based on their race, color and national origin," according to EEOC letters released to the Mercury News.

The company denied the allegations. Cisco said it is "committed to maintaining and growing a diverse talent pipeline that we believe is required to compete successfully in the technology industry."

Construction Company Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

T.R. Orr Inc., a construction company in Arizona, has agreed to pay $60,000 to a male worker to settle a same-sex sexual harassment lawsuit.

A male construction worker filed the lawsuit, claiming he was subject to repeated physical sexual harassment by a co-worker at an Orr construction site.

After the investigation, EEOC found the company was aware of this issue but failed to take appropriate action.

Victim of same-sex sexual harassment will receive $60,000 for compensation.

Morgan Stanley Settles Sex Harassment Lawsuit

Morgan Stanley, the world's second-biggest securities firm has agreed to set up a $46 million claims pool to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit.

Six women, who were former Morgan Stanley financial advisers filed the lawsuit, claiming Morgan Stanley discriminated against them and more than 3,000 current and former advisers since August 2003. They were paid less than men and had fewer promotion opportunities.

Morgan Stanley agreed to increase earnings for female advisers by at least $16 million over five years. The firm also agreed to change training and management-development programs in wealth- management division.

This settlement marks the ninth largest in a US gender bias class-action case.

N.H. Senate Approves Minimum Wage Hike

N.H. Senate voted Thursday to raise New Hampshire's minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour in the next two years.

The bill passed 19-5 in the senate and has sent to Gov. John Lynch for his signature.

The bill would increase the current minimum wage $5.15 per hour to $6.50 this September and to $7.25 next year.

The current minimum wage in New Hampshire is as the same as the federal rate. The increase will be the first time of last 10 years.

Chinese Restaurant Agrees to Pay $41,661 in back wages

China Star Buffet management, a Chinese restaurant based in Bonita Springs has agreed to pay $41,661 in back wages to 24 employees.

The restaurant was accused uncovered violations of minimum wage, overtime and record keeping provisions. Three other Chinese restaurants in Miami and Royal Palm Beach were also under investigation.

Connie Klipsch, a regional administrator for the federal agency said, "This administration is vigorously enforcing the federal minimum wage and overtime laws to ensure that workers are paid the wages they have earned."

FedEx Settles Sex Harassment Lawsuit

FedEx Corp., the world's largest air-cargo carrier, has agreed to pay $3 million to a former worker to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Charlotte Boswell, who worked in the company's Oakland dispatch center for a nearly 12-year filed the case, claiming she was subject to inappropriately kissing and hugging by a FedEx supervisor.

Boswell was awarded $550,000 for lost wages as well as pain and suffering and $2.45 million in punitive damages.

Fedex plans to appeal the Boswell verdict.

Lawmakers send minimum wage bill to governor

General Assembly sent a bill that ties Indiana's minimum wage to the federal minimum wage increase to Governor Mitch Daniels.

The Indiana House voted 75-22 Tuesday to approve Senate amendments to the bill.

The bill would likely to increase Indiana's state minimum wage from the current $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over the next two years.

The U.S. House already has voted to boost the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.

The minimum wage in Indiana has not increased for a decade.

Gas Station Chain Agreed to Pay $1 Million in Back Wages

Chestnut Petroleum Dist., Inc. has agreed to pay $900,000 in back wages to 767 employees and a $100,000 penalty to the federal government to resolve violations of FLSA overtime requirements.

The company is accused of paying employees less than the federal minimum wage and failing to pay the workers proper overtime rates.

The labor department also found that the employers failed to keep required records showing hours worked each day; total hours worked weekly and pay rates for many workers.

The 100-thousand dollar civil penalty "will be used as further incentive to properly compensate workers from now on," U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao said.

Georgia Pacific Sued Over Sexual Harassment

EEOC filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Georgia Pacific.

A former female employee complained that the company fostered a hostile work environment against her, and she was sexually harassed and threatened from 2001 to 2005.

From the comment Georgia Pacific released, the company denied the allegations.

EEOC Filed Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Fleming's

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar over sexual harassment.

On behalf of John Pilkington and other male employees, EEOC filed the suit, claiming they were "suffered demeaning touching of intimate body parts as well as unwelcome sexual comments."

The restaurant fired John Pilkington after he made the complaints.