Costly Mistakes
Corporate math isn’t adding up: DOL targets illegal wage violations
Explaining corporate math is one of the trendiest ways for frustrated employees to take a jab at their employers right now. You’ve probably seen plenty of posts and videos featuring workers’ views on corporate math. It might be a new catchphrase on social media, but the reality is, the DOL has been on the lookout…
Costly FLSA ‘hot goods’ lesson: Company pays $1.1M for contractors’ illegal wage practices
Beyond Yoga recently paid more than $1.1 million to cover back wages and damages owed to its contractors’ employees who were allegedly shortchanged on overtime pay. You might be wondering: Why in the world would any company shoulder a seven-figure expense for its contractors’ mistakes? A little thing called the “hot goods” provisions, tucked into…
Costly mistake – court orders bakeries to pay nearly $1M in back wages, plus penalties
A Connecticut federal court has ordered three bakeries to pay nearly $1 million in back wages and damages to 74 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The suit was prompted by an investigation by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division, which determined the three bakeries — Padaminas NY Bakery II,…
Customer behaving badly: Company pays $50K to settle third-party sexual harassment claim
Your frontline managers probably know the company has a legal obligation to protect employees from sexual harassment from co-workers. But what if it’s a customer crossing the line? Just how far do employers have to go to protect employees from third-party sexual harassment? This case involved Houchens Food Group, Inc., owner and operator of Pic-N-Sav…
Data breach, but no identity theft: Can employee still sue?
An important new decision from a federal appeals court says a former employee can proceed with claims against her old employer based on a data breach – even though the breach did not lead to identity theft or fraud against her. “In an increasingly digitized world,” the court advised, “an employer’s duty to protect its…
Data privacy class action: $6.9M settlement agreement puts employers on notice
Earlier this spring, we gave you the top five employment law changes to closely monitor in 2023, and data privacy regulations made our short list. Now, a proposed $6.9 million class-action settlement to resolve data privacy claims verifies that the issue needs to be on your radar. Data privacy class-action focuses on consent An employee…
Disability discrimination case: Policy mistakes seal $300K jury verdict
The Eleventh Circuit upheld a $300,000 award for a fired employee after a jury determined her termination amounted to disability discrimination in violation of the ADA. Due to injuries sustained in a car accident, Ashley Merard had a tracheostomy tube that was visible on the front of her neck. In July of 2017, she was…
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