The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced plans to crack down on the construction industry in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2008, the department has conducted 230 investigations in the sector, which have resulted in approximately 1,800 employees receiving more than $1.6 million in back wages.

The department's investigators explain that the most common violations include failing to pay employees for all of their time attendance, not paying overtime rates or misclassifying workers. Some employers might be tempted to classify employees as independent contractors to extending them some of the benefits guaranteed by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

"This initiative underscores our commitment to protecting construction workers against exploitation and ensuring a level playing field for honest employers who should not have to face unfair downward pressure in order to stay competitive," Bruce Clark, the division's district director in Richmond, said in a news release.

Employers in this field should take this announcement as a warning and bring any questionable payroll practices into compliance. They can use records generated from a timeclock, or another timekeeping system as evidence, should they come under investigation. 

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