HONOLULU – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $171,897 in back wages from a physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic after an investigation determined the employer denied 32 employees full overtime pay at three of its facilities, in violation of federal law.Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division determined First Physical & Functional Rehab failed to combine hours worked across its three locations in Wahiawa, Waianae, and Waipahu, resulting in some workers not receiving overtime compensation. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to pay workers time and one-half their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. In addition to the back wages, the employer also paid $18,810 in civil money penalties because of the willful nature of the violations. “Employers must abide by federal laws and ensure that workers are fully compensated for all hours worked,” said Wage and Hour Division Acting District Director Patrick Candoleta in Honolulu. “We will continue to hold employers accountable to help ensure that compliance is a priority in every workplace. We will also offer compliance assistance to help employers who seek it avoid violations of overtime requirements and other wage and hour rules.”First Physical & Functional Rehab operates under the names Wahiawa Rehab Services Inc., Waianae Valley Physical Therapy Inc., and Waipahu Physical Therapy Inc.Workers and employers can call the Wage and Hour Division with questions and requests for compliance assistance at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency’s industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division. The agency’s PAID program offers employers an opportunity to self-report and resolve potential FLSA minimum wage and overtime violations, as well as certain potential violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act.Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Download the agency’s free timesheet app for Android and iOS devices to ensure hours and pay are accurate.