US Department of Labor recovers $122K in back wages for 140 Mississippi HVAC workers

JACKSON, MS - The U.S. Department of Labor recovered $122,476 in back wages for 140 workers following an investigation that found a Mendenhall-based cooling, heating, and electrical employer failed to pay workers their full wages, in violation of federal law.

The department's Wage and Hour Division determined that AirSouth LLC - operating as AirSouth Cooling and Heating - did not include non-discretionary bonuses when calculating overtime wages for workers and failed to issue final paychecks to two employees in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

"The U.S. Department of Labor is dedicated to ensuring that workers receive the wages they have rightfully earned," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Audrey Hall in Jackson, Mississippi. "This case serves as an important reminder for employers to review and assess their pay practices to help prevent violations. The Wage and Hour Division is available to help employers who have questions about minimum wage and overtime compliance."

Established in 2016, AirSouth LLC's headquarters is in Mendenhall and the employer has another branch in Greenville.

Employers and workers can call the division with questions and requests for compliance assistanceat its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency's industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits and to review relevant opinion letters and other guidance to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division. The agency's PAID program offers employers an opportunity to self-report and resolve potential minimum wage and overtime violations under the FLSA, as well as certain potential violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Employers and workers can call the division with questions and requests for compliance assistance through the agency's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Download the agency's free Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices to track hours and pay.