New York landscaping company to pay $1.1M after US Department of Labor uncovers overtime, H-2B program violations

Summary:

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that Dario's Landscaping & Masonry Inc., a Southampton-based landscaping company, failed to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the federal H-2B worker program. The company will pay over $1 million in back wages and liquidated damages to 54 underpaid workers. The violations included not paying employees overtime, providing false records, threatening H-2B workers, and coaching them to give false testimony. The company will also pay civil money penalties and be debarred from the H-2B program for one year. A compliance consultant and training programs for managers and workers will be implemented to ensure future compliance.