If you work at Belle Tire, you might be getting some unexpected cash soon.
More than 1,200 Belle Tire employees throughout the Midwest will share in nearly $343,000 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Division. While the paybacks include stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, there was no immediate indication of the store on M-139 in front of the Fairplain Plaza is one impacted by the decision or not.
Following the Wage & Hour Division investigation, the Michigan-based automotive tire and service retail chain agreed to pay $342,926 in back wages to 1,207 employees at 100 locations in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.
Labor Department investigators determined that Belle Tire violated the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) when the company failed to include incentive bonuses and sales commissions earned by employees in their rates of pay when calculating their overtime payment. Instead, Belle Tire paid workers time-and-one-half of only their base rates, without considering the amounts by which these bonuses and commissions had boosted employees’ straight time earnings.
Authorities say the violation affected non-exempted employees including – but not limited to – tire technicians, mechanics, sales staff, mobile auto glass mechanics, and those offering roadside assistance.
Timolin Mitchell is the government’s Wage & Hour District Director in Detroit. He notes, “Wage violations can be avoided when employers understand the requirements under federal labor law.” Timolin says that Belle Tire is now training its store managers, supervisors, and payroll personnel “to ensure they compute overtime properly and employees receive the wages they have rightfully earned.”
Regarding Belle Tire’s response to the case, Timolin points out, “This employer remained very cooperative during the investigation and the company wants to ensure compliance at all their locations. We encourage all employers to contact the Division for guidance and assistance to avoid violations.”
For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, you can contact the Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the Wage & Hour Division.
