Childcare providers have an important impact on the success of the every generation, but recent investigations indicate they do not always receive wages that reflect the value of their work. The Department of Labor (DOL) has been conducting investigations in daycare centers throughout Arkansas for the past year and found disappointing results.

Employers in the childcare industry were not always paying overtime for employee attendance past 40 hours, they sometimes required staff members to participate in training sessions without pay and they didn't uphold recordkeeping standards. These are violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that could result in penalties.

In this particular case, it meant 817 employees received a total of $585,716 in back wages for unpaid work.

"It is important that workers in this industry are paid their rightful wages and treated with respect so they, in turn, can provide quality childcare service to our nation's working families," said Cynthia Watson, Southwest regional administrator for the DOL's Wage and Hour Division.

FLSA violations are not uncommon in this field, according to the Wage and Hour Division. Some employers are confused about whether their staff members qualify for exemptions as professionals, and misclassify them to avoid paying extra wages. However, accidentally (or deliberately) shortchanging workers can attract negative attention and damage a childcare provider's reputation.

All data and information provided on this news blog is for informational purposes only. Infinisource makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. Information regarding employment suits and other legal action is not updated after publication, and may not be current.