Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 337
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.990 (2026)

Civil penalties

✓ current as of May 2026 Cite as: Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.990 (2026)
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The following civil penalties shall be imposed by the Education and Labor Cabinet, in accordance with the provisions in KRS 336.985, for violations of the provisions of this chapter: (1) Any firm, individual, partnership, or corporation that violates KRS 337.020 shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense. Each failure to pay an employee the wages when due him under KRS 337.020 shall constitute a separate offense. (2) Any employer who violates KRS 337.050 shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (3) Any employer who violates KRS 337.055 shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense and shall make full payment to the employee by reason of the violation. Each failure to pay an employee the wages as required by KRS 337.055 shall constitute a separate offense. (4) Any employer who violates KRS 337.060 shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall also be liable to the affected employee for the amount withheld, plus interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum. (5) Any employer who violates the provisions of KRS 337.065 shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense and shall make full payment to the employee by reason of the violation. (6) Any person who fails to comply with KRS 337.070 shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense and each day that the failure continues shall be deemed a separate offense. (7) Any employer who violates any provision of KRS 337.275 to 337.325, KRS 337.345, and KRS 337.385 to 337.405, or willfully hinders or delays the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative in the performance of his or her duties under KRS 337.295, or fails to keep and preserve any records as required under KRS 337.320 and 337.325, or falsifies any record, or refuses to make any record or transcription thereof accessible to the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). A civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be assessed for any subsequent violation of KRS 337.285(4) to (9) and each day the employer violates KRS 337.285(4) to (9) shall constitute a separate offense and penalty. (8) Any employer who pays or agrees to pay wages at a rate less than the rate applicable under KRS 337.275 and 337.285, or any wage order issued pursuant thereto shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (9) Any employer who discharges or in any other manner discriminates against any employee because the employee has made any complaint to his or her employer, to the commissioner, or to the commissioner's authorized representative that he or she has not been paid wages in accordance with KRS 337.275 and 337.285 or regulations issued thereunder, or because the employee has caused to be instituted or is about to cause to be instituted any proceeding under or related to KRS 337.385, or because the employee has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding, shall be deemed in violation of KRS 337.275 to 337.325, KRS 337.345, and KRS 337.385 to 337.405 and shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (10) Any employer who violates KRS 337.365 shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (11) A person shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) when that person discharges or in any other manner discriminates against an employee because the employee has: (a) Made any complaint to his or her employer, the commissioner, or any other person; or (b) Instituted, or caused to be instituted, any proceeding under or related to KRS 337.420 to 337.433; or (c) Testified, or is about to testify, in any such proceedings. Effective:July 1, 2022 History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 236, sec. 118, effective July 1, 2022. -- Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 3, sec. 6, effective January 9, 2017. -- Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 24, sec. 1750, effective July 15, 2010. -- Amended 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 122, sec. 2, effective July 13, 2004. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 329, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 3, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 188, sec. 262, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 222, sec. 2. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 391, sec. 13. -- Amended 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 33, sec. 11. -- Amended 1960 Ky. Acts ch. 56, sec. 4, effective June 16, 1960. -- Amended 1944 Ky. Acts ch. 63, sec. 2. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. secs. 576a-2, 1350, 1599c-19, 1599c-20, 2290c-4, 2290c-7, 4767a-16, 4866b-7. Legislative Research Commission Note (10/23/1990). Through an apparent clerical or typographical error, the reference to KRS 337.505 to 337.550 in the first sentence of what is now subsection (13) of this statute was transformed into "KRS 337.505 or 337.550." Compare 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 33, sec. 11, with 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 391, sec. 13. Pursuant to KRS 7.136(1), 446.270, and 446.280, the prior wording has been restored.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: Williams v. King Bee Delivery, LLC
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Williams v. King Bee Delivery, LLC (2016) kyed · cites it 25× “Civil Penalties Defendants argue Plaintiffs have no standing to seek the civil penalties in KRS 337.990. The Court agrees. As the Court noted in section E, supra, the Secretary of the Labor cabinet is tasked with enforcing civil penalties in KRS 337.”
England v. Advance Stores Co. (2009) kywd · cites it 11× “The penalty section of KRS Chapter 337 found at KRS 337.990 (Michie 2007) provides that any employer who violates the statutory rest break requirement “shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.”
Berrier v. Bizer (2001) ky · cites it 2× “Bizer’s VisionWorld (hereinafter “Bizer”) 1 claiming that she was wrongfully discharged from her employment in violation of KRS 337.990(14), see KRS 446.070, and that she was discriminated against because of her pregnancy in violation of KRS 344.”
TECO Mechanical Contractor, Inc. v. Commonwealth (2012) ky · cites it 3× “KRS 337.990. The Cabinet may do so by issuing a citation describing the violations that occurred and imposing a civil penalty.”
Hardin Memorial Hospital, Inc. v. Land (1983) kyctapp “Therefore, the Court concludes that no criminal fines or penalties should be imposed as set out in KRS 337.990(9). ORDER AND JUDGMENT WHEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Defendants, Mitchell Overfelt Construction *717 Company, Inc.”
Gamas v. Division 4 Construction LLC (2020) kyed · cites it 5× “Gamas requests the Court assess civil penalties against Division 4 pursuant to KRS § 337.990 in the total amount of $3,000.”
Martha Martinez v. Jb Electric, LLC (2021) kyctapp · cites it 3× “Plaintiff cannot sustain an action for retaliatory termination under KRS 337.990(9). When asked if she had reported any wage and hour issue, Plaintiff admitted that she “just asked for a raise” because she was taking on more responsibility.”
Rebollar v. DBC Food LLC 2 (2021) kywd · cites it 2× “020 claim, Rebollar’s retaliation claims under the FLSA and KRS 337.990(9), and claims against the individual Defendants as joint employers.”
Johnson v. Goodworks Unlimited, LLC (2025) kyed “] Goodworks failure to do so has subsequently opened them up to civil penalties pursuant to KRS 337.990(3). Id. KRS 337.055 provides that accumulated compensation shall be paid in full by the employer to the employee upon separation of employment within 14 days.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.990(10) — 1 case
England v. Advance Stores Co. (2009) kywd “The penalty section of KRS Chapter 337 found at KRS 337.990 (Michie 2007) provides that any employer who violates the statutory rest break requirement “shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.990(12) — 1 case
TECO Mechanical Contractor, Inc. v. Commonwealth (2012) ky “KRS 337.990. The Cabinet may do so by issuing a citation describing the violations that occurred and imposing a civil penalty.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.990(14) — 2 cases
Berrier v. Bizer (2001) ky “Bizer’s VisionWorld (hereinafter “Bizer”) 1 claiming that she was wrongfully discharged from her employment in violation of KRS 337.990(14), see KRS 446.070, and that she was discriminated against because of her pregnancy in violation of KRS 344.”
England v. Advance Stores Co. (2009) kywd “The penalty section of KRS Chapter 337 found at KRS 337.990 (Michie 2007) provides that any employer who violates the statutory rest break requirement “shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.990(3) — 1 case
Johnson v. Goodworks Unlimited, LLC (2025) kyed “] Goodworks failure to do so has subsequently opened them up to civil penalties pursuant to KRS 337.990(3). Id. KRS 337.055 provides that accumulated compensation shall be paid in full by the employer to the employee upon separation of employment within 14 days.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.990(9) — 4 cases
Williams v. King Bee Delivery, LLC (2016) kyed “Civil Penalties Defendants argue Plaintiffs have no standing to seek the civil penalties in KRS 337.990. The Court agrees. As the Court noted in section E, supra, the Secretary of the Labor cabinet is tasked with enforcing civil penalties in KRS 337.”
Hardin Memorial Hospital, Inc. v. Land (1983) kyctapp “Therefore, the Court concludes that no criminal fines or penalties should be imposed as set out in KRS 337.990(9). ORDER AND JUDGMENT WHEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Defendants, Mitchell Overfelt Construction *717 Company, Inc.”
Martha Martinez v. Jb Electric, LLC (2021) kyctapp “Plaintiff cannot sustain an action for retaliatory termination under KRS 337.990(9). When asked if she had reported any wage and hour issue, Plaintiff admitted that she “just asked for a raise” because she was taking on more responsibility.”
Rebollar v. DBC Food LLC 2 (2021) kywd “020 claim, Rebollar’s retaliation claims under the FLSA and KRS 337.990(9), and claims against the individual Defendants as joint employers.”
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