Employer: La Dolce Vita LLC
Subsidiary investigation sites: LDV Golf Cart and Bike Rentals LLC
La Dolce Vita LLC, operating as LDV Beach
196 N. Holiday Road, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
La Dolce Vita Watersports LLC
327 Harbor Blvd., Destin Harbor, FL 32541
30A Woodworks Panama City LLC
17616 Ashley Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Investigation findings: Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer misapplied the seasonal amusement or recreational establishments’ exemption for its workers. La Dolce Vita paid some employees straight-time rates for all hours worked, while paying others on a day-rate basis with no overtime. By doing so, the employer failed to pay employees their additional half-time rates for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The employer also misapplied a salary exemption for some managers who did not supervise employees, nor had hiring and firing authority, requirements under the FLSA to be able to claim the exemption.
Back Wages Recovered: $144,095 for 141 workers.
Quote: “Seasonal workers are often unaware – because of their short-term of employment – that their wages may be miscalculated. A misapplied exemption, like the one misused in this case, can deny workers of large sums of unpaid wages,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Wildalí De Jesús in Orlando, Florida. “Situations like these can be avoided by employers by making sure their pay practices comply with federal law. We encourage employers and employees alike to contact us with their questions about wages and other pay issues.”