Department of Labor recovers $133K in wages and damages for 56 landscaping workers denied overtime by Longmont snow removal, landscaping company

Employer name: Turf Paradise Inc.

Investigation site: 41 3rd Ave.

Longmont, CO 80501

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Divisionfound Turf Paradise Inc. failed to pay overtime to 56 workers when the Longmont snow removal and landscaping company improperly claimed an exemption for seasonal recreational and amusement workers. The employer paid the affected workers their base rate when they should have paid time and one-half their regular rate-of-pay for hours over 40 in a workweek, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Back wages recovered: $66,316 in back wages

Damages recovered: $66,316 in liquidated damages

Quote: "Employers must comply with federal law and pay workers the overtime wages they are rightfully owed," said Wage and Hour District Director David Skinner in Denver. "Employers have the obligation of understanding what the law requires. If you need help with any of the laws, please call the Wage and Hour Division."

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 and how to file an online complaint. For confidential compliance assistance, employees and employers can call the agency's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), regardless of where they are from.

Download the agency's new Timesheet Appfor iOS and Android devices - also available in Spanish - to ensure hours and pay are accurate.