Michigan Blueberry Growers Fined for Overtime Pay Violations

Grand Rapids, MIThe US Labor Department has ordered blueberry farmers and contractors in four Michigan counties to pay nearly $106,000 after an investigation during the summer found overtime pay violations, among others, the Grand Rapids Press reports.

The civil penalties against the 18 growers and nine contractors totaled $78,040 while the farmers were forced to pay $27,874 in back wages to workers due to overtime violations, according to the news provider.

According to the news source, last year, a grower lost his contract with a number of major retailers after he had been cited for similar violations.

The latest violations were discovered during the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division investigations at 22 different farms during the blueberry harvest season in July and August, the news source said.

"Among the violations were dilapidated building structures, overcrowding, lack of hot water for bathing and rooms infested by insects," said James Smith, the district director of the Wage and Hour Division's office in Detroit. "These conditions certainly violated the law, as well as common decency."

According to the Department of Labor's Web site, "an employer who requires or permits an employee to work overtime is generally required to pay the employee premium pay for such overtime work."