WASHINGTON -- The Labor Department says Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is paying $4.8 million in back wages and damages to more than 4,500 employees nationwide for unpaid overtime.
The Bentonville, Ark.-based company is also paying nearly $464,000 in civil penalties for violating federal overtime laws.
The violations cover current and former managers at Wal-Mart vision centers and certain security personnel at Wal-Mart Discount Stores, Wal-Mart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club warehouses.
The Labor Department says the company improperly considered the workers to be exempt from overtime pay.
Labor officials say Wal-Mart began correcting the way it classifies the affected employees in 2007.
By SAM HANANEL, Associated Press
Associated Press