The world’s largest employer is no stranger to run-ins with the government over its employment practices, but the DOL came down especially hard on the retail giant recently.
And employers of all stripes can learn a few things about what to avoid from Walmart’s costly overtime settlement.
According to an investigation by DOL, a number of different stores that are part of Walmart Stores, Inc., classified current and former vision center managers and asset protection coordinators as exempt. Because of this misclassification, Walmart didn’t pay them overtime for any hours they worked over 40 in a single week, which is a clear violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards.
Result: Walmart agreed to settle the lawsuit for $4.83 million. On top of back wages and damages, the retailer was hit with $463,815 in civil penalties for the repeated nature of the violations.
