Department of Labor v. Five Star Automatic Fire Protection, LLC

**Court Orders Fire Protection Company to Pay Nearly $250,000 for Unpaid Wages** The Department of Labor sued Five Star Automatic Fire Protection, LLC after discovering the company wasn't paying employees for all their work time. Workers were required to arrive early for pre-shift activities between 6:45-7:00 a.m. and weren't paid for post-shift travel time, violating federal wage laws. The court ruled in favor of the Department of Labor, finding that Five Star illegally withheld wages from its employees. The company was ordered to pay $121,687 in back wages to workers, plus an additional $2,604 for record-keeping violations. The court also imposed "liquidated damages" - essentially a penalty equal to the unpaid wages amount - bringing the total to nearly $249,000. This ruling reinforces an important principle for workers: employers must pay for all time spent working, including required pre-shift preparation and post-work travel. If your employer requires you to arrive early for briefings, equipment setup, or other work-related activities, that time should be compensated. Workers who suspect they're not being paid for all their work time can file complaints with the Department of Labor, which has the authority to investigate and recover unpaid wages.