South Carolina Gas Station and Convenience Store Found Guilty of Violating Overtime Wage Laws

Failure to Pay Overtime Wages Results in Reimbursement

In a recent development, a gas station and convenience-store retailer in West Columbia, South Carolina, has been found in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced that Samer Express LLC had failed to pay their employees the required overtime rates, resulting in a breach of federal labor laws.

As per the Department of Labor, the employer failed to pay the overtime premium of time and one-half the established hourly rates for hours beyond the 40-hour and overtime threshold in a workweek. Instead, the workers were paid straight time for all hours worked.

The Department of Labor Stepped In

Once the discrepancy was identified, the Department of Labor stepped in and made strides to get restitution for the affected employees. In total, the department managed to reclaim over $153,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for the impacted workers.

The involved convenience store, Samer Express LLC, is a single-location business based in West Columbia, South Carolina. It was incorporated back in January 2017. According to state business filings, Efrain Sanchez, who also owns Sanchez Construction, is the listed owner of the establishment.

The Significance of the Action

The action against Samer Express LLC underlines the importance of maintaining fair and compliant wage practices among employers. Not only does it foreground the role of the Department of Labor as an active watchdog against wage-related anomalies, but it also re-emphasizes the necessity for employers to adhere to federally mandated labor law regulations to avoid hefty fines and sanctions.

This incident serves as a stark reminder for both large scale corporations and small scale businesses alike, highlighting the need to adhere to labor laws and ensure appropriate wage payment.