The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is tasked with enforcing federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as well as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and a number of other employment standards and worker protections.
Generally, the WHD will initiate an investigation after a current or former employee files a complaint. In addition to complaints, the WHD selects certain businesses and industries for investigation. Occasionally, several organizations in a specific geographic area will be examined.
The following report contains case studies published in 2025 and 2026 that explore the most recent, real-world examples of employers found to be in violation of wage and hour laws. These case studies include snapshots of violations and general guidance on how employers can prevent similar issues.
To examine these case studies and learn from the mistakes of other employers, click the following link to read Employment Case Studies – Insights into Wage and Hour Violations.
