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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HOTEL EMPLOYEES FILE WAGE LAWSUIT AGAINST EMPLOYER, HILTON

More than 150 current and former employees of the Los Angeles airport Hilton have filed a lawsuit against their employer, claiming the hotel avoided the city’s living wage law. The lawsuit states that the hotel paid the employees less than they were entitled to by law by hiring through a subcontractor to avoid paying higher wages. The suit seeks back pay for affected employees and a court injunction mandating that Hilton comply with the city’s living wage laws in the airport area.

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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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CINTAS TO PAY $6.5 MILLION FOR UNPAID WAGES

The LA Times is reporting Cintas Corp. has settled a California wage lawsuit.  According to Patrick J. McDonnell, Cintas will pay $3.3 million to more than 500 hundred employees for back wages, plus interest. 

Cintas Corp. denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the class action lawsuit after five years of litigation “in order to avoid the additional expense and distraction of ongoing litigation.”

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CITY TO PAY $1.75 MILLION FOR UNPAID WAGES

The City of Oakland and the plaintiffs have agreed to settle an unpaid wages lawsuit for $1.75 million.  The 2006 lawsuit filed by Officer Bob Valladon, alleged officers weren’t being paid for time spent putting on and taking off their uniforms (aka “don and doff”).  Over 500 current officers will receive about 130 vacation hours each, and about 60 retired officers each will be paid $3,500 as a result of the settlement, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

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AT&T Employees Seek $1 Billion for Unpaid Wages

Two lawsuits have been filed against AT&T alleging the company required its employes to work overtime, but failed to pay employees overtime wages.  One lawsuit was filed in San Francisco, California, the other was filed in Atlanta, Georgia.  The lawsuits allege AT&T mis-classified employers as managers, thus, making them exempt from overtime wages.  The plaintiffs are seeking $1 billion in lost wages.

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