Come join your colleagues and clients at the nation’s premier wage and hour defense forum and hone the skills and strategies needed to keep pace with this rapidly changing area of law, defend against new and innovative claims, and prepare for emerging regulations and evolving enforcement priorities cliff
Industry Related News
Industry related article from atlantaemploymentlawattorney.com, by Barrett & Farahany, LLP, posted on 04/15/2013
Wage and Hour Lawsuits Increased Last Year
Wage and hour lawsuits in California and throughout the country increased last year compared to 2011, according to a new report by the National Economic Research Associates. The report showed that employers in the U.S. paid 18 percent more in 2012 to settle wage and hour lawsuits filed by employees.
Most wage and hour lawsuits are filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act. FLSA provides employees with the right to receive proper payment for all hours worked; receive accurate payments for overtime according to state and federal guidelines and establishes meal or rest breaks during work shifts.
The report noted that in 2012, U.S. employers paid roughly $467 million in wage and hour settlements, and that 102 lawsuits filed last year were settled before they even went to trial. The average settlement award in 2012 was reported at $1,300 per plaintiff. Wage and hour lawsuits should be taken very seriously by employers because they are legally obligated to pay employees for the hours they have worked. If they do not pay employees according to federal and state laws, employees can file a wage and hour lawsuit against the company to try and receive a monetary settlement for any unpaid wages. Workers are protected by California employment laws as well as federal laws. Employees should understand their rights under California law, especially if they work overtime hours or are concerned they may not be receiving proper lunch or rest breaks during their shifts. Employment laws can be difficult to fully understand so it is beneficial to work with an employment law attorney when taking legal action against your employer, especially when filing a wage and hour lawsuit.