Levi Strauss stores in Nevada among those cited for wage violations

Staff and wire reports

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 | 8:45 a.m.

Clothing maker Levi Strauss & Co. will pay about $1 million in back wages to 596 employees after the government found overtime and record keeping violations at some of the company's stores, including those in Nevada, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

A government investigation found that the San Francisco-based company misclassified several groups of workers as exempt from overtime, including assistant store managers at some newly acquired stores. Levi Strauss locations in Primm, Las Vegas, Laughlin and Reno were included in the announcement.

The Labor Department said the assistant managers were required to work off the clock during late-night closings, early-morning openings and staffing shortages. The company failed to record all the hours that employees worked in its payroll system, the agency said.

Levi Strauss has agreed to upgrade its time and attendance system and comply with wage laws. The investigation is part of a broader Labor Department crackdown on companies that misclassify workers to avoid paying overtime wages.

Levi Strauss spokeswoman Kelley Benander said the company cooperated with government officials to address the problems.

"The federal rules governing the employee classification process are complex and it's common for companies to have issues with misclassification," Benander said.