Hawaiian coffee beans fetch a premium price in the United States. Known for the smooth, rich cup, Kona coffee has become a luxury in the rest of the country. Given the coffee's elevated status, it's hard to imagine that coffee growers on the islands are not paying their laborers properly.

But, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division recently investigated coffee growers and producers in Hawaii and determined that Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations are widespread. In some cases, employees were being paid on a piecemeal basis that cause their earnings to fall below minimum wage, while there were also instances of child labor and flat out unpaid employee attendance. There were also employers who did not maintain accurate records of employee's time and attendance and others who misclassified workers, thus denying them overtime wages.

"While we are pleased to have recovered back wages for a substantial number of workers, we will continue our effort to promote awareness and improve compliance in this industry," said Terence Trotter, director of the WHD's Honolulu district office.

When the DOL finds violations in an industry, there is a strong likelihood investigators will return to make sure companies have brought their practices into compliance. To avoid further violations, employers can keep accurate records of all payroll documents on hand.

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