Lubbock Concrete Company Pays Over $43,000 in Back Wages to Employees

Following an investigation by the US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, a Lubbock concrete company has paid over $43,000 in back wages to nine employees for violating wage requirements.

The investigation by the WHD determined that the company, M & US Concrete failed to pay prevailing wages after it wrongly classified employees.

Employees subcontracted to work as carpenters at a Veterans Affairs facility were classified as laborers. The required prevailing wages for carpenters totals over $29 and hour, whereas the laborer rate is $18 an hour.

KAMC News reports that M & US Concrete also failed maintain sick leave records mandated by Executive Order 13706.

Wage and Hour Division District Director Evelyn Sanchez in Albuquerque, New Mexico said:

All contractors and sub-contractors must ensure they are thoroughly aware of and abide by all requirements associated with performing work on federally funded projects [...] Failing to pay employees the wages they have rightfully earned under federal law shorts the workers and undercuts other employers competing for federal contracts. We encourage all employers to contact us for guidance to avoid violations and ensure employees receive the wages they have earned

The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts requires contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal and certain federally funded projects to pay employees wage rates and fringe benefits as determined by the US Secretary of Labor.