Enforcement and Penalties

Employees can sue their employers for back wages and liquidated damages (equal to the amount of back wages), together with attorneys’ fees, costs, and other appropriate relief such as promotions and reinstatement, for violations of the FLSA. The Secretary of Labor also can bring a lawsuit on the employee’s behalf for back wages and either liquidated damages or an injunction prohibiting the employer from committing further violations of the Act.

The DOL also can institute criminal prosecution for willful violations of the Act.  Employers who willfully violate the minimum wage or overtime provisions of FLSA may be fined up to $10,000, and if the employer has been convicted on a prior occasion may also be imprisoned up to six months.  See 29 U.S.C. § 216.  The statute of limitations is five years for criminal violations under the FLSA.

In addition to criminal penalties, the DOL is authorized to impose civil monetary penalties for repeated or willful violations of the FLSA. A penalty of up to $1,330 per violation may be imposed for violations of the minimum wage or overtime provisions of the act. A penalty of up to $2, 374 per violation may be assessed against any person who repeatedly or willfully violates the act. A violation is considered “repeated” if the employer has previously received notice of a violation of the act. A violation is considered “willful” where the employer either knew the conduct violated the act or showed reckless disregard for the requirements of the act, such as situations in which the employer should have inquired further into whether the conduct violated the act.  29 C.F.R. § 578.3.

Under the child labor provisions of the act, an employer can be fined up to $15,138 per child labor violation.  If the violation causes death or serious injury to an employee under the age of 18, the maximum penalty is $68,801 and if that violation is repeated or willful the maximum goes up to $137,602.  29 C.F.R. § 579.1.

An employer is prohibited from retaliating against an employee for filing a complaint or otherwise participating in an FLSA proceeding.