LAS VEGAS – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $824,276 in back wages and damages for 680 employees of a Las Vegas drywall contractor that denied overtime pay to piece-rate and hourly workers, in violation of federal law.The recovery follows the department’s Wage and Hour Division investigation of Spectrum Construction LLC that found the employer failed to pay piece-rate and hourly workers – including painters, drywall hangers, and tapers – time-and-one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The division found that Spectrum Construction paid piece rates to workers without any overtime premium for hours worked over 40 and “banked” the overtime hours of hourly painters, later compensating them with days off paid at straight time or not compensating them at all.“This case highlights the Wage and Hour Division’s commitment to protecting construction workers’ rights to be paid overtime wages,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Gene Ramos in Las Vegas. “By uncovering and addressing widespread overtime violations at Spectrum Construction, we are ensuring that hundreds of workers receive the wages they rightfully earned. Our enforcement efforts ensure fair competition in the construction industry and send a clear message that employers must comply with federal labor laws.”The FLSA requires that an overtime premium be paid to all non-exempt employees for hours worked over 40, even if the employee is not paid on an hourly basis. Additionally, only pubic employers, such as state and local governments, are allowed to bank overtime hours, and are subject to additional rules.The department also assessed Spectrum Construction $10,060 in civil money penalties for the willful nature of the violations.Since 2011, Spectrum Construction LLC has operated as a contractor focusing on drywall, metal stud framing, acoustical installation, and painting for residential and commercial buildings in Nevada.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. Employers and workers can call the division with questions and requests for compliance assistance through the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Download the agency’s free Timesheet App for iPhone and Android devices to track hours and pay.