Labor Department recovers $1.7 million in unpaid overtime for 1,666 workers at Tennessee Ford site

The U.S. Department of Labor says it recovered $1,730,598 in back wages for 1,666 hourly workers after investigators found that The State Group Industrial (USA) Ltd. Inc. did not include incentive bonuses when calculating overtime at Ford Motor Co.’s electric vehicle and battery manufacturing campus in Stanton, Tennessee. The agency announced the case on June 23, 2026.

The Fair Labor Standards Act generally requires overtime pay at least one and one-half times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The Labor Department says bonuses and other incentive pay can have to be included in that regular-rate calculation unless a specific legal exclusion applies.

Why this case matters

This is a practical reminder for hourly workers and payroll teams: overtime math is not always just hourly pay times 1.5. If a worker receives non-excludable incentive pay, the regular rate can rise, which can increase overtime owed.

Federal wage law also covers many workers and businesses beyond this single case, including employees engaged in interstate commerce or employed by covered enterprises. Workers who think back wages may be owed can use the Labor Department’s search tools or contact Wage and Hour Division staff for help.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division fact sheet: Bonus rule