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Civil Penalty Amounts Increased for 2025

Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Civil Penalty Amounts Increased for 2025
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Effective Date

  • January 15, 2025: The increased amounts apply to civil penalties that are assessed after January 15, 2025 (for violations occurring after November 2, 2015).

The Department of Labor (DOL) released its 2025 inflation-adjusted civil monetary penalties which may be assessed on employers for violations of a wide range of federal laws, including:

  • The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA);
  • The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA);
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and
  • The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).

To maintain their deterrent effect, the DOL is required to adjust these penalties for inflation, no later than January 15 of each year. Key penalty increases include the following:

  • The maximum penalty for violations of federal minimum wage or overtime requirements increases from $2,451 to $2,515 per violation.
  • The maximum penalty for failing to file a Form 5500 for an employee benefit plan increases from $2,670 to $2,739 per day.
  • The maximum penalty for violations of the poster requirement under the FMLA increases from $211 to $216 per offense.

Action Steps

Employers should become familiar with the new penalty amounts and review their pay practices, benefit plan administration and safety protocols to ensure compliance with federal requirements.

Highlights

  • Annual Updates: The DOL must adjust its civil penalty amounts for inflation each year.
  • Possible Penalties: The DOL may assess these penalties on employers that violate federal laws that the DOL enforces, such as the FLSA, ERISA, the FMLA and the OSH Act.
  • Compliance Review: To minimize potential liability, employers should review their compliance with laws enforced by the DOL.
REQUIREMENT  2024 PENALTY AMOUNT 2025 PENALTY AMOUNT

Wage and Hour

Repeated or willful violations of minimum wage or overtime requirements (FLSA)

Up to $2,451 for each violation

Up to $2,515 for each violation

Violations of child labor laws

Up to $15,629 for each employee subject to violation

Up to $16,035 for each employee subject to violation

Violations of child labor laws that cause death or serious injury to an employee under age 18

Up to $71,031 for each violation (doubled to $142,602 if the violation is repeated or willful)

Up to $72,876 for each violation (doubled to $145,752 if the violation is repeated or willful)

Willful failure to post FMLA general notice

Up to $211 for each separate offense

Up to $216 for each separate offense

Violations of the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

Up to $25,597 for each violation

Up to $26,262 for each violation

Employee Benefits

Failure to file an annual report (Form 5500) with the DOL (unless a filing exemption applies)

Up to $2,670 per day

Up to $2,739 per day

Failure of a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) to file an annual report (Form M-1) with the DOL

Up to $1,942 per day

Up to $1,992 per day

Failure to furnish plan-related information requested by the DOL
*Under ERISA, administrators of employee benefit plans must furnish to the DOL, upon request, any documents relating to the employee benefit plan.

Up to $190 per day, but not to exceed $1,906 per request

Up to $195 per day, but not to exceed $1,956 per request

Failure to provide the annual notice regarding CHIP coverage opportunities
*This notice applies to employers with group health plans that cover residents of states that provide a premium assistance subsidy under a Medicaid or CHIP program.

Up to $141 per day for each failure (each employee is a separate violation)

Up to $145 per day for each failure (each employee is a separate violation)

For 401(k) plans, failure to provide blackout notice or notice of right to divest employer securities

Up to $169 per day

Up to $173 per day

Failure to provide summary of benefits and coverage (SBC)

Up to $1,406 per failure

Up to $1,443 per failure

Employee Safety – OSH Act

Violation of posting requirement

Up to $16,131 for each violation

Up to $16,550 for each violation

Other-than-serious violation

Up to $16,131 for each violation

Up to $16,550 for each violation

Serious violation

Up to $16,131 for each violation

Up to $16,550 for each violation

Willful violation

Between $11,524 and $161,323 per violation

Between $11,823 and $165,514 per violation

Uncorrected violation

Up to $16,131 per day until the violation is corrected

Up to $16,550 per day until the violation is corrected

 

Material posted on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal opinion or medical advice. Contact your legal representative or medical professional for information specific to your legal or medical needs.