Top Golf Forced To Pay $750K For Overtime Violation, $50K in GA.

ATLANTA — Employees at two area Top Golf locations are part of a group of workers the company owes back pay for violating federal overtime laws, authorities said.

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that Top Golf locations in 25 states failed to pay overtime when 255 employees worked more than 40 hours a week, violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

As a result of the corporate-wide investigation, the Dallas-based company was forced to pay $750,063 in back pay to those employees, federal authorities said.

Eleven employees from Georgia locations received a total of nearly $50,000 from the pay-out, Labor Department officials told Patch. That includes $32,922.05 to seven employees at the West Midtown location and $16,466.42 to the Alpharetta location. Two other Georgia locations in Augusta and Buford were not found to be in violation.

The nationwide driving range company paid event sales managers and event sales consultants salary plus commission, but didn’t pay those 255 employees the federally mandated overtime, Labor Department officials said. The workers did not meet the standard for supervisors who are exempt from overtime pay, federal investigators determined.

“Employers cannot evade federal overtime requirements by simply giving an employee a manager’s title,” said Wage and Hour Southwest Regional Administrator Betty Campbell in Dallas. “This case should serve as a clear warning and prompt other employers to review their pay practices. Employers uncertain of their obligations should contact their local Wage and Hour District Office or visit our website for guidance on how to comply with federal law.”