State employees in Texas were able to boost their earnings by accruing overtime that cost the city $122 million throughout 2011, according to an analysis by the Houston Chronicle.

Three Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, firefighters recently filed a lawsuit against the city to reclaim overtime wages they say they weren't paid.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley recently approved $250,000 in grants for overtime among law enforcement agencies.

Employee misclassifications can cause serious problems for employers, according to The Human Resources Journal.

The Department of Labor has stepped up its presence across a number of markets to reduce wage theft, and it recently announced the Wage and Hour Division will pay special attention to California's garment industry.

Investigators discovered the restaurant's payroll practices were violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime provisions.

In certain service environments, employees receive tips in addition to the wages they are owed for their time attendance. Restaurant waitstaff and bartenders generally fall into this category.

The Jimenez Custom Harvest company based in Clovis, New Mexico, has been found in violation in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by the Department of Labor and will pay $67,000 in back wages to 45 employees on top of $35,625 in penalties.

The employee recruiting environment is becoming increasingly competitive, according to EConsultancy.