Dog days are over for underpaid K-9 officers
A federally subcontracted K-9 security team, doing business as K-9 SOS Search on Site, was recently investigated by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and found to owe 34 dog handlers back pay totaling $178,721.
The WHD discovered the employer was not properly paying workers for overtime or keeping accurate records of employee attendance, which are both violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Moreover, K-9 SOS was not adhering to the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act's fringe benefits measures, resulting in further non-compliance.
As a result of these violations, investigators have assessed that employees are owed $39,243 for fringe benefits that were not administered, such as vacation time, while $139,478 is to be recovered for time spent picking up the dogs and transporting them to and from kennels.
"The terms of federally funded contracts are clear and well-established in the bidding process and upon award of a contract. Federal contractors and subcontractors must comply with these terms and pay their workers proper prevailing wages and benefits," said Sandra Sanders, director of the division's Nashville District Office, in a recent press release.
If departments or other federally contracted companies are uncertain about their payroll practices, they can update their systems with a timeclock that will ensure all time and attendance is tracked and accounted for.
The WHD discovered the employer was not properly paying workers for overtime or keeping accurate records of employee attendance, which are both violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Moreover, K-9 SOS was not adhering to the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act's fringe benefits measures, resulting in further non-compliance.
As a result of these violations, investigators have assessed that employees are owed $39,243 for fringe benefits that were not administered, such as vacation time, while $139,478 is to be recovered for time spent picking up the dogs and transporting them to and from kennels.
"The terms of federally funded contracts are clear and well-established in the bidding process and upon award of a contract. Federal contractors and subcontractors must comply with these terms and pay their workers proper prevailing wages and benefits," said Sandra Sanders, director of the division's Nashville District Office, in a recent press release.
If departments or other federally contracted companies are uncertain about their payroll practices, they can update their systems with a timeclock that will ensure all time and attendance is tracked and accounted for.
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