Here’s a shocker: As companies freeze wages, more employees file lawsuits claiming they’ve been unfairly compensated.
In two late-December rulings, federal judges rendered decisions against employers in lawsuits where workers claim they should be paid for getting ready for work.
A judge in Arkansas granted class certification to ex-Butterball employees who claim they weren’t paid for the time they spent putting on and taking off protective gear at a poultry plant.
Then nearly 1,500 Qwest Communications employees sued their employer, saying they should be paid for time spent booting up and shutting down their computers — and a judge denied Qwest’s request to dismiss the class-action suit.
Cases like these often result in settlements that end up costing companies more than if they’d originally granted workers the wages.
Unsure of the legal ins-and-outs of employee compensation? Check here for guidance from the Department of Labor.
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