Source:  Ann Bagel Storck, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/1/10

Poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride will pay just over $1 million in overtime back wages for almost 800 former and current workers at the company's processing plant in Dallas, the U.S. Labor Department announced Friday.

The agreement, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, El Dorado Division, settles allegations that Pilgrim's failed to properly pay overtime back wages as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The law's overtime violations occurred in part, the Labor Department said, because the company failed to pay its employees for all hours worked, including time spent putting on and taking off protective clothing. Additionally, required recordkeeping was not maintained.

Pilgrim's also agreed to pay for time spent by employees donning and doffing work-related gear in all its processing plants nationwide.