US Labor Department: Twin Cities grocer to pay $212K in overtime back wages

A Twin Cities-area grocer will pay 81 workers a total of more than $212,000 in overtime back wages after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Department of Labor said Supermercado Lomabonita, which has five metro locations, failed to pay overtime to its cooks, butchers, bakers and cashiers, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

According to the department, the business paid employees "straight time" for all hours worked instead of overtime pay, failed to combine hours employees worked at multiple sites in the same week, failed to maintain accurate records of employees’ hours, and considered some employees exempt from overtime, in violation of the law.

The back wages will be paid to 23 workers in Crystal, 25 in Savage, 11 employees at the Hilltop location, 17 from the St. Paul site and five in Monticello.