A federal judge ruled Cascom Inc. and its president, Julia Gress, improperly classified employees as independent contractors and didn’t pay overtime in violation of federal laws, the U.S. Department of Labor reported this week.

The department now plans to seek more than $1.6 million from the Fairfield, Ohio, company, including more than $800,000 in back wages and $800,000 in liquidated damages. The hearing on damages has been set for Nov. 22.

Cascom provides residential cable television, Internet and telephone installation services for Time Warner Cable in the Dayton, Ohio, area, according to the Department of Labor. The case involved 250 installers.

“The misclassification of employees as independent contractors is an alarming trend,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. “The practice is a serious threat to both workers, who are entitled to good and safe jobs, and to employers who obey the law and are undercut when others use illegal practices.”