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Hastings, Nebraska – The U.S. Department of Labor has successfully recovered $230,000 for 545 workers who were denied pay for essential pre- and post-shift tasks at Noah’s Ark Processors LLC, a meat processing plant in Hastings.

Key Points

• The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor conducted an investigation into the pay practices at Noah’s Ark Processors LLC.
• It was found that workers were only paid for the time they and their co-workers were actively engaged in task work during their shifts.
• The company's practice did not compensate workers for several minutes each day spent donning and removing protective gear and cleaning equipment before and after shifts.
• The unpaid work occurred daily from at least September 6, 2021, through February 4, 2023.
• On December 21, 2023, a consent judgment and order was issued, which mandates Noah’s Ark Processors LLC to pay the owed wages to the affected workers.
• Additionally, the company is required to adhere to the Fair Labor Standards Act in the future to prevent similar violations.