Protecting Employers Since 1985

Department of Labor Still Very Active

In October, 2014, the United States Department of Labor issued its fiscal year statistics, covering numerous Fiscal Years, in various areas of its responsibility and enforcement (Fair Labor Standards Act; Child Labor; Family Medical and Leave Act Enforcement). It is very interesting to note that these statistics clearly confirm a major increase in wage and hour activities as conducted by the Department of Labor with increases in both the amount of recovered back wages and the time spent by agents on enforcement. These increased enforcement efforts have reached “record high levels” in 2013-2014 with more than 8,000 Federal Labor Standards Act cases being filed between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014, which is a five (5%) percent jump from the previous year. As well, since Fiscal 2000, there has been a 438% increase in federal wage and hour lawsuits. These enforcement and trend statistics are a clear indication to employers that they must use great care and their best practices to ensure compliance with wage and hour laws.

As part of this paper, you will find the actual statistics below for the wage and hour divisions identified fiscal years for all acts, Family Medical and Leave Act Enforcement and Child Labor Enforcement. These statistics, in and of themselves, are extremely telling:

All Acts:

 
WHD Enforcement Statistics – All Acts FY 2013 FY 2012 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2009 FY 2008 FY 2007 FY 2006
Back Wages $249,954,412 $280,697,546 $224,844,870 $176,005,043 $172,615,125 $185,287,827 $220,613,703 $171,955,533
Employees Receiving Back Wages 269,250 308,846 275,472 209,814 219,759 228,645 341,624 246,874
Complaints Registered 25,628 25,420 27,112 31,824 26,311 23,845 24,950 26,256
Enforcement Hours 1,339,029 1,377,441 1,213,182 1,066,188 879,626 882,419 899,406 951,971
Average Days to Resolve Complaint 110 145 177 142 101 97 97 93
Concluded Cases 33,146 34,139 33,295 26,486 24,922 28,242 30,467 31,987

WHD Continues Strong Child Labor Enforcement

Child Labor Enforcement Statistics FY 2013 FY 2012 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2009 FY 2008 FY 2007 FY 2006 FY 2005 FY 2004 FY 2003 FY 2002 FY 2001
Directed Child Labor Cases 233 317 464 591 1,063 1,269 1,285 952 1,406 2,155 2,031 2,105 2,021
Cases With Child Labor Violations 704 749 729 684 887 1,129 1,249 1,083 1,129 1,616 1,648 1,936 2,103
Minors Employed In Violation 1,393 1,614 1,873 3,333 3,448 4,734 4,672 3,723 3,703 5,840 7,228 9,690 9,918
Minors Per Case 2.0 2.2 2.6 4.9 3.9 4.2 3.7 3.4 3.3 3.6 4.4 5 4.7
Cases With HO Violations 276 334 366 308 394 466 410 361 396 459 654 747 876
Minors Employed In Violation of HOs 520 682 949 863 1,183 1,617 1,000 994 1,091 1,087 1,449 1,710 2,060

Family And Medical Leave Act Enforcement

 
FMLA Enforcement Statistics FY 2013 FY 2012 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2009 FY 2008 FY 2007 FY 2006 FY 2005 FY 2004 FY 2003 FY 2002 FY 2001 FY 2000 FY 1999 FY 1998 FY 1997
Number of Complaint Cases 1,634 1,723 2,132 2,094 1,841 1,889 1,983 2,161 2,784 3,350 3,565 3,501 2,790 2,833 2,912 3,795 2,670
Percent of No-Violation Cases 54% 55% 58% 58% 49% 47% 45% 49% 51% 55% 54% 50% 48% 44% 39% 38% 44%

Nature of Complaint

 
FMLA Enforcement Statistics FY 2013 FY 2012 FY 2011 FY 2010 FY 2009 FY 2008 FY 2007 FY 2006 FY 2005 FY 2004 FY 2003 FY 2002 FY 2001 FY 2000 FY 1999 FY 1998 FY 1997
Refusal to Grant FMLA Leave 319 340 484 468 412 416 459 522 647 697 815 741 629 575 589 716 699
Refusal to Restore to Equivalent Position 212 212 233 230 239 220 242 261 328 369 370 400 360 402 1,505 1,841 1,276
Termination 673 749 890 913 763 757 764 870 1,132 1,473 1,567 1,503 1,123 1,159 n/a n/a n/a
Failure to Maintain Health Benefits 20 33 40 36 33 39 29 31 50 48 46 71 62 45 49 91 77
Discrimination 410 389 485 447 394 457 489 477 627 763 767 786 616 652 642 849 468

*Site source: http://www.dol.gov/whd/statistics/.

During Fiscal Year 2013, the recovery of approximately 250 million dollars is approximately 78 million dollars more than recovered in Fiscal Year 2006 ($249, 954,412 dollars – Fiscal Year 2013 versus $171,955,533 dollars – Fiscal Year 2006).

  • With the addition of approximately 300 new investigators over the last two (2) years, the hours spent by wage and hour investigators on enforcement totaled 1.339 million in Fiscal 2013 as compared to 880,000 hours in 2009 and 970 hour when compared to Fiscal 2006 – a fairly substantial increase.

It is also interesting to take note that the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division has published the Final Rule establishing the standards and procedures necessary to implement Executive Order 13658 – establishing a Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors. This Executive Order requires the implementation of a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour for all Federal Contractors performing works on contracts agreed to on or after January 1, 2015. Also for any federal contractors, the Department of Labor will play a major role in preparing the regulation and guidance for the implementation of Executive Order 13673 – Fair Pay and Safe Work Places. Of note, this new Executive Order calls for the Department of Labor to create and impose arbitration limits for claims arising out of Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964 and sexual harassment tort claims for federal contractors. This order also will require greater transparency in pay information and disclosure of labor law violations for the past three (3) years for any Federal Contractor.
Going forward, whether federal contractors or not, all employers should do the following:

  1. Maintain proper pay records and post appropriate notices for compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and any requirements under Executive Orders/Federal Contractor requirements.
  2. Be clear and consistent with regards to determining who is an “employee” and who is an “independent contractor”. Make absolutely certain that if you are employing “independent contractors” that you clearly define them in any written documents as “independent contractors” and do not use the term “employee” in any of these agreements. Provide “independent contractors” with written vendor agreements that clearly establish an independent contractor relationship.
  3. Train personnel and management to understand the different requirements of various labor laws and specifically train with regard to overtime regulations and pay.
  4. Conduct internal audits to establish that all labor laws and pay requirements are being observed.
  5. Keep an update of any and all changes in laws in how they impact your business.

Questions? Contact Walter J. Liszka in the Chicago office at waliszka@wesselssherman.com or by phone at (312) 629-9300. 

COVID-19 Resources

Stay up-to-date about developments in the Midwest

Categories

Contact us at any of our four Midwest locations

Schedule your confidential consultation

Contact Wessels Sherman if you would like to speak with one of our experienced labor and workplace attorneys, contact any of our four office locations and schedule a consultation.