LinkedIn to pay for labor law violations

The Internet networking site LinkedIn has agreed to pay more than $3.34 million in overtime back wages and more than $2.5 million in liquidated damages to employees in four states.

Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor found that LinkedIn had failed to follow overtime and record-keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The payments go to 359 current and former employees in California, Illinois, Nebraska and New York.

Federal law requires that covered, non-exempt employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour for all hours worked, plus time-and-one-half their regular hourly rates for hours worked over 40 a week.

LinkedIn agreed to pay all wages due and take steps to prevent further violations of the law.

“This company has shown a great deal of integrity by fully cooperating with investigators and stepping up to the plate without hesitation to help make workers whole,” said David Weil, administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division.

Investigators had found that LinkedIn hadn’t recorded and paid for all hours worked in a work week. The company agreed to provide compliance training for affected workers and prohibit off-the-clock work for all non-exempt employees and managers.

“Off-the-clock hours are all too common for the American worker,” said Susana Blanco, Wage and Hour district director in San Francisco. “We urge all employers, large and small, to review their pay practices to ensure employees know their basic workplace rights and that the commitment to compliance works through all levels of the organization.”

Federal labor law provides that employers who violate the law are generally liable for back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages that are paid directly to the affected employees.

This story was originally published August 4, 2014 at 2:03 PM with the headline "LinkedIn to pay for labor law violations."