work force; sales shoot up

Despite delays in obtaining a direct-sales license in China, USANA Health Sciences Inc. increased its global sales force by 14.3 percent, allowing the company to post a record 17.1 percent increase in sales during the first quarter of this year, the company has announced.

USANA, based in Salt Lake City, develops and manufactures nutritional supplements, personal care products and weight-loss aids that are sold through network marking.

During the first quarter of 2006, net sales at USANA increased from $76.6 million to $89.7 million and net earnings increased from $8.9 million to $9.6 million or 7.1 percent from over the same period a year ago.

Earnings per share improved to $0.50 per share, an increase of 11.2 percent, compared with $0.45 per share a year earlier. Earnings per share in the first quarter of 2006 were reduced by $0.03 because of a requirement that the company expense equity-based compensation.

The company said it expects sales to grow 12 percent to 15 percent in the second quarter.

- Linda Fantin

Classic Drywall pays out

Classic Drywall Systems Inc. of Lehi has paid $72,392 in overtime back wages to 77 employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

According to the agency, Classic Drywall violated the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act by not including incentive pay as part of the regular rate of pay when overtime was calculated. The business paid an incentive to employees who worked out of town.

Under federal law, employers generally must pay workers at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. Employers must also maintain adequate and accurate records of employees' wages, hours and other conditions of employment, the Labor Department said.

- Lesley Mitchell