Automotive Service Chain Owes $1M+ in Wages, Damages

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has announced Monroe-based Best One Tire Group will pay more than $1 million in overtime back wages and liquidated damages for 1,056 employees nationwide for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The arrangement was issued after several investigations by the division.

After investigating 203 tire stores operating under the Best One Tire Group across 24 states, WHD found that 835 employees were due $622,142 in overtime back wages alone.

This means that the employer failed to include bonuses, commissions, incentive pay and shift differentials in the calculation when determining overtime pay rates, resulting in wage violations.

Thirteen prior investigations conducted in 2017 and 2018 at various tire stores under the Best One Tire Group found $218,486 in overtime back wages and $183,180 in liquidated damages due to 221 employees for similar violations. 

“The violations disclosed in these investigations are far too common. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is committed to increasing knowledge and awareness of the laws so that employees receive all their hard-earned wages,” said Wage and Hour District Director Patricia Lewis in a news release. “This employer cooperated during the investigations and is taking steps to ensure compliance at all of their locations. We encourage employers to contact WHD for guidance and compliance assistance.”