NEW IBERIA — A Louisiana electrical contractor has agreed to pay over $240,000 in back wages to employees to resolve U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) claims of federal overtime law violations.
According to the DOL, Ernest Breaux Electrical LLC failed to pay over 100 employees for overtime after improperly classifying employees as "independent contractors" and did not keep correct payroll records in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
"Employers in the construction industry must pay their employees the wages they have legally earned," said DOL Wage and Hour Division New Orleans district director Troy Mouton said in a statement. "We want to help employers in construction, and in all industries, learn what federal labor laws require so that employees are paid what they have legally earned, and employers can avoid violations and compete on a level playing field."
Breaux Electrical has also agreed to establish procedures and policies designed to prevent any further overtime wage violations, the DOL said.