BRISTOL, Va. – Sprint has paid nearly $259,429 in back wages and a $120,000 fine after a federal labor investigation revealed the telecommunications giant did not pay overtime to 1,013 workers from its Bristol call center at 134 Commerce Court.
The U.S. Department of Labor investigation focused on the roughly nine minutes before the start of shifts between July 2005 and June 2007. During that time, employees review company e-mails and download computer applications, labor spokeswoman Leni Fortson said.
A regional Sprint spokeswoman said Thursday that the company admits no wrongdoing.
“Our goal with the settlement was to reach a quick resolution on the matter and the Department of Labor expressly acknowledges within the agreement that Sprint admits no wrongdoing. Sprint takes wage and hour matters and its obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act very seriously,“ Virginia regional spokeswoman Natalie Papaj said.
Sprint centers nationwide have been forced to pay back wages four times since 1996, Fortson said. This history, along with the most recent episode, brought the added $120,000 fine.
So far, the Labor Department has returned back wages to 919 of the Bristol workers, Fortson said, and is searching for the remaining 94.
mowens@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2549
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