FIREFIGHTERS FILE LAWSUIT FOR UNPAID WAGES

A group of northern California firefighters has filed a lawsuit against the Menlo Park Fire Protection District over the time they spend picking up uniforms and other gear before their shifts begin. The lawsuit claims that firefighters should be paid for the time they spend driving to different stations and picking up and dropping off gear.

The employees’ lawsuit is seeking “monetary damages in the form of full back pay compensation, liquidated damages equal to their unpaid compensation, plus interest.”  

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RJ REYNOLDS SETTLES UNPAID OVERTIME WAGES LAWSUIT

Tobacco company R.J. Reynolds has agreed to an undisclosed settlement in a lawsuit brought on by employees over overtime wages. The suit claimed that the company instructed employees not to include overtime hours and failed to provide the compensation which they were entitled to under law. While the amount of the settlement was not disclosed, the lawsuit sought $5 million.

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POLICE OFFICERS SETTLE WITH CITY FOR UNPAID WAGES

Officers in Houston’s canine police unit have reached a settlement with the city that will pay them overtime for the care of their dogs. The officers filed suit against the city last summer, claiming that the city was obligated to pay the officers for time the spent off-duty taking care of their dogs. Each of the 50 officers in the suit will receive 1.5 hours overtime weekly for weekend and holiday care for their police dogs.

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EMPLOYEES CLAIM THEY WERE DENIED OVERTIME PAY BECAUSE OF MISCLASSIFICATION

A Canada-based cosmetics company has been named in a lawsuit by a Florida man and a five other employees who claim they were denied thousands of dollars in overtime pay because of their job title. Seth Nadreau alleges in his lawsuit that Lush Cosmetics classified him and the other plaintiffs as managers just to avoid paying them overtime, even though their job duties were no more than cashiers and customer service representatives. The plaintiffs are asking for overtime compensation, damages and attorneys’ fees.  Pat Gillespie, Fort Meyers News-Press.

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Judge Keeps ‘Donning and Doffing’ Lawsuit Alive

Denver police can move forward with their lawsuit against the city over payment for time spent putting on and taking off their uniforms, a judge said Tuesday. The initial lawsuit was filed in 2007 and asked for payment when officers performed various menial tasks, including washing, dressing and maintaining their uniforms.

U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch allowed the suit to proceed, but also stated that the city could argue that the activities were so insubstantial that it should not merit pay. Christopher N. Osher, Denver Post.

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Administrative Assistant Files Lawsuit for Unpaid Overtime Pay

An administrative assistant has filed a lawsuit against her employer for unpaid overtime pay.  The administrative assistant claims her employer, Blackstone Group LP, required her to work 45-50 hours per week and owes her almost 2 years worth of overtime pay.

Her employer claims she was an “exempt” employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) because she was in a management position.  The plaintiff claims she was misclassified her as management and is due overtime pay.

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If you have worked more than 40 hours in one week for you employer and you have not received overtime pay (time and a half), you may be entitled to money damages. 

OVERTIME PAY LAWSUIT SETTLED FOR $42 MILLION WITH STAPLES

The Boston Globe is reporting  Staples Inc. has settled a class action lawsuit which alleged Staples failed to pay assistant store managers overtime pay.  The class representative alleged class members worked more than 50 hours per week and performed duties that did not include management duties.  The putative class members alleged they are entitled to overtime pay from Staples. 

The $42 million settlement includes more than 5500 current and former Staples employees. 

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