MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A South Carolina business will pay $63,568 in back wages and liquidated damages to its employees to resolve charges by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of overtime violations.
According to the WHD, an investigation by the department found that 41 employees of two Beach Bum locations operated by Prime Retail Management Group Inc. were not paid overtime for working more than 40 hours in a workweek. The company paid the employees straight-time rates regardless of the number of hours worked, the WHD said. The WHD also charged Prime Retail Management with violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for not maintaining accurate time and payroll records.
"Employers must pay employees the wages they have legally earned for all the hours they have worked," WHD district director Jamie Benefiel said in a statement. "Other employers should take this as an opportunity to review their own pay practices to ensure that they are complying with the law.
"We remain committed to educating employers and employees about their rights and responsibilities so that violations can be avoided, and that employers compete on a level playing field."