Section 408.393 - Violation of act by employer; civil action; fine.
MINIMUM WAGE LAW OF 1964 (EXCERPT)
Act 154 of 1964
408.393 Violation of act by employer; civil action; fine.
Sec. 13.
(1) If any employer violates this act, the employee affected by the violation, at any time within 3 years, may:
(a) Bring a civil action for the recovery of the difference between the amount paid and the amount that, but for the violation, would have been paid the employee under this act and an equal additional amount as liquidated damages together with costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court.
(b) File a claim with the commissioner who shall investigate the claim.
(2) If the commissioner determines there is reasonable cause to believe that the employer has violated this act and the commissioner is subsequently unable to obtain voluntary compliance by the employer within a reasonable period of time, the commissioner shall bring a civil action under the procedures and remedies as provided in subsection (1)(a). The commissioner may investigate and file a civil action under subsection (1)(a) on behalf of all employees of that employer who are similarly situated at the same work site and who have not brought a civil action under subsection (1)(a). A contract or agreement between the employer and the employee or any acceptance of a lesser wage by the employee is not a bar to the action.
(3) In addition to bearing liability for civil remedies described in this section, an employer who fails to pay the minimum hourly wage in violation of this act, or who violates a provision of section 4a governing an employee's compensatory time, is subject to a civil fine of not more than $1,000.00.
History: 1964, Act 154, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;-- Am. 1966, Act 269, Imd. Eff. July 12, 1966 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Mar. 12, 1997
Compiler's Notes: For creation of the new wage and hour division as a type II agency within the department of labor and economic growth, see E.R.O. No. 2003-1, compiled at MCL 445.2011.For transfer of powers and duties of the former wage and hour division of the department of consumer and industry services, transferred to the bureau of worker's and unemployment compensation, to the new wage and hour division within the department of labor and economic growth by type II transfer, see E.R.O. No. 2003-1, compiled at MCL 445.2011.