Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) enforcement statistics published recently by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) show that the agency resolved slightly fewer administrative complaints alleging minimum wage and overtime violations filed with the agency in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 as compared to the previous year. However, the FY 2017 numbers are consistent with the average number of FLSA complaints resolved by DOL over the last ten years.
With regard to monetary benefits, DOL collected $157.6 million in back wages for victims of FLSA overtime violations last year, an 8% drop from FY 2016. With respect to minimum wage violations, DOL collected $31.2 million in FY 2017, down about 11% from the previous year. Although the total amount of $188.8 million collected for both overtime and minimum wage violations represents a nearly 9% drop from FY 2016, the FY 2017 total still is the second highest dollar amount collected over the past decade.
As is the case with DOL’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) enforcement data, the FLSA numbers are of only limited value in giving a total picture of FLSA enforcement activity. DOL reports only the number of complaints it resolves, not the number of complaints it receives or the number of complaints in its backlog. Also as is the case with the FMLA, a person alleging violations of the FLSA can go directly to court without first having to file an administrative charge with DOL.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) can read more here.