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An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division determined Gomez Drywall Contractors violated the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. According to a new release from the agency, the Fort Walton Beach, Fla.-based company, operating in Louisiana since 2017, has paid $178,766 in back wages to 108 employees.

Investigators discovered the framing and drywall construction company misclassified workers as independent contractors and failed to pay the misclassified employees overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a work week. Gomez Drywall Contractors violated recordkeeping requirements by failing to maintain time and payroll records. The investigation determined employees of Gomez Drywall Contractors were jointly employed by Spring, Texas-based general contractor RSL Contractors. RSL, which hired Gomez Drywall Contractors as a subcontractor, cooperated with the investigation and agreed to release payments due to Gomez Drywall Contractors directly to the Department of Labor.

"Violations like those found in this case are common in this industry, and are avoidable," said Wage and Hour Division New Orleans district director Troy Mouton. "The Wage and Hour Division is committed to ensuring that employees receive the wages they've earned and that employers compete on a level playing field."