$3 Million Settlement In FLSA Class Action
A federal judge has recently approved a $3 million settlement in a class action lawsuit brought against Olan Mills based on violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”).
In the lawsuit, 18 current and former employees alleged that Olan Mills, Inc. violated the FLSA by forcing employees to work off the clock, including performing work duties before their shifts started and after they ended, as well as being required to attend meetings without compensation. Additional allegations included the failure to pay overtime, denial of time for meals, and the withholding of wages owed to employees.
Under the FLSA, all employees who are not exempt must be paid overtime benefits at a rate of one and one half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a work week. Where non-exempt employees are expected to perform work duties during non-work hours, they must be compensated. If the additional time spent working constitutes overtime, employers must pay employees at the higher overtime rate of pay.
Here, Olan Mills denied the allegations but reached a settlement agreement through a neutral mediator. Mediation often provides a more efficient and less expensive alternative to traditional litigation.
For more information, or if you believe you have not received all the compensation you are entitled to, contact Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP, a Georgia Law Firm dedicated to protecting employee’s rights.