DOL recovers $122,000 in back wages for 140 HVAC workers
MS-based AirSouth Cooling and Heating did not include non-discretionary bonuses when calculating overtime wages for workers, and failed to issue final paychecks to two employees
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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recovered just over $122,000 in back wages for 140 workers from a Mississippi-based HVAC and electrical company, the agency announced Wednesday.
What’s happening: The DOL found that AirSouth LLC, operating as AirSouth Cooling and Heating, did not include non-discretionary bonuses when calculating overtime wages for workers, and failed to issue final paychecks to two employees — violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
What they’re saying: “The U.S. Department of Labor is dedicated to ensuring that workers receive the wages they have rightfully earned,” said Audrey Hall, district director of the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division.
- “This case serves as an important reminder for employers to review and assess their pay practices to help prevent violations,” she added.
State of play: AirSouth had grown from a one-man operation in 2015 to 68 trucks and 128 employees as of 2023, a local news outlet reported at the time.
- Reached by phone, a company executive declined to comment.
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