Wauseon hotel chain pays $18,792 in back pay

4/14/2011

WAUSEON — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $18,792 in back wages owed to 96 current and ex-workers at 16 hotels in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania operated by Sunrise Hospitality Inc., of Wauseon.

The chain was investigated after complaints that the hotel operator had violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay its employees minimum wage and overtime. The firm also was cited for not keeping accurate records of workers' wages and hours.

Specifically, investigators said the chain failed to pay workers for pre and postshift work and deducted breaks of less than 20 minutes from hours worked. Workers also received overtime pay only after 80 hours in a two-week period, instead of after 40 hours as required by law.

The firm had to pay back wages in Ohio to 20 workers at the Hampton Inn in Fremont, 18 at the Holiday Inn Express in Defiance, 9 at the Hampton Inn in Mansfield, one at the Hampton Inn in Defiance, two at the Holiday Inn Express in Wauseon, 14 at the Holiday Inn Express in Napoleon, one at the Country Inn and Suites in Lima, and six at the Holiday Inn Express in Bucyrus.