CLEVELAND — As of a September 2015 filing, Richland County, Ohio is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that the county failed to appropriately compensate workers in a manner that violated the Far Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Plaintiffs claim that the County intentionally avoided paying their workers overtime wages to prevent them from receiving the 1.5 times the standard wage rate that overtime work is required to receive.
The County supposedly offset overtime hours worked by employees by giving time off in future weeks by a ratio of one hour off per one hour of overtime. However, the standard for providing time off in exchange for overtime hours is 1.5 hours off per hour of overtime.
The case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
What Is Important Information About Richland County?
Richland County is located in Northeast Ohio and was originally organized in 1813 after creation in 1808. As of 2010, the county was the home of 124,475 citizens with over a third of them living in the county seat of Mansfield.
What Standards Did Richland County Need To Follow?
FLSA requirements stipulated that Richland County needed to pay its workers 1.5 times their standard wage rate in their overtime hours and the time off compensation had to be 1.5 hours per hours work rather than a one to one ratio.
Workers whose work hour records were manipulated to avoid paying them their overtime benefits will now be eligible to pursue a recovery of those lost wages and benefits.
How Can I Contact An Overtime Wage Attorney?
Many employees are being unlawfully denied wages by employers. If you feel that you fit this description, you should call (855) 754-2795 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page.