Department of Labor recovers $101K in wages, damages for 31 employees of Houston plumbing contractor owed overtime

HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $101,690 in back wages and damages owed to 31 employees of a Houston plumbing contractor who paid them a salary but failed to pay an overtime premium for hours over 40 in a workweek.

Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division determined Amailey Plumbing LLC categorized service technicians and apprentice helpers as salaried employees and did not pay them the correct overtime rate as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The division calculated that the contractor owed $50,845 in back overtime wages and an equal amount in damages.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to making sure every worker receives their rightfully earned wages,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Chad Frasier in Houston. “The outcome in this case should remind other employers to evaluate their pay practices in order to avoid sometimes costly compliance issues. Employers are encouraged to contact the Wage and Hour Division if they have any questions about compliance.”

Founded in 2008, Amailey Plumbing LLC offers plumbing services in the Houston area for new home construction, routine system cleaning, maintenance, repair, and response for plumbing emergencies. 

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Workers and employers can call the division’s toll-free helpline for assistance at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). 

Download the agency’s free Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices to ensure hours and pay are accurate.