The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has been investigating employers in Florida's agriculture industry as part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on time and attendance violations for low-wage workers. After auditing the payroll practices of 144 agricultural employers in Central Florida, it found widespread violations that led the task force to recover back wages owed to 925 workers.

In total, the WHD reclaimed $135,000 for affected workers as the result of employers paying individuals on a piecemeal rate that did not meet minimum wage standards. It also identified instances in which employees' wages did not include compensation for all of their hours worked or companies did not keep accurate payroll and employment records.

Joint employment is another problem that often impacts agricultural workers, as labor contractors and the agricultural operations that need to secure temporary/permanent employees are both subject to the FLSA. However, they often believe that liability falls on one or the other. When violations are found, both parties can be held accountable and ordered to pay for back wages and penalties.

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