The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, and Mercedes-Benz announced
the company has agreed to pay 240 workers at its Vance, Ala., plant $687,588
in back wages for the period Feb. 18, 2001 to Feb. 9, 2003.
For a Limited Time receive a
FREE Compensation Market Analysis Report! Find out how much you should be paying to attract and retain the best applicants and employees, with
customized information for your industry, location, and job.
Get Your Report Now!Mercedes is paying the back wages as a result of a self-audit it conducted
after the Wage and Hour Division brought to the company's attention allegations
that it had not properly paid paint department employees for required uniform
changing time.
After recordkeeping and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act
were explained to the company, Mercedes officials immediately agreed to full
future compliance, according to Jack L. McKeon, acting regional administrator
for the Wage and Hour Division's southeastern region.
With guidance from the staff of the Wage and Hour Division's Birmingham office,
the company conducted a self-audit to properly determine the extent of the liabilities
that resulted from this underpayment.
"Mercedes Benz' management has been very forthright regarding these violations
and has cooperated fully throughout the process. They agreed early in the process
to work with the Wage and Hour Division to bring this matter to resolution,"
says McKeon. "A cooperative effort like this ensures timely payment of
back wages to employees and compliance for the company in the future."
The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that all covered employees be paid at
least the minimum wage for all hours worked, currently $5.15 per hour. It further
requires the payment of overtime-premium pay, at time and one-half the employee's
regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of forty hours per work week.
Links