BOSTON — After months of reported settlement negotiations, the two sides in a class action unpaid overtime lawsuit appear to have resolved the claim and works may finally be compensated for all their overtime hours. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, a common practice among defendants attempting to avoid admitting liability and mitigate bad press about allegations of wage theft and other labor violations.
The overtime pay lawsuit, originally filed in 2014 in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleged that Price Chopper violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by improperly misclassifying team members as overtime exempt. The lead plaintiff in the case claimed that she worked for Price Chopper as a “team leader” in several Massachusetts stores from 1983 until June 2014, frequently working 45 to 50 hours per week without overtime.
The lead plaintiff asserted that she performed many of the same duties side by side with non-exempt workers, the latter receiving overtime for the work performed in the bakery, deli, meat, seafood, grocery, front-end, and produce departments. After a federal judge certified the lawsuit as a class action, other similarly affected Price Chopper workers joined the suit in a bid to recover their lost wages as well.
Manager Overtime Pay Rules
Under the FLSA, employers may only classify certain workers as “overtime exempt” and pay these individuals a flat salary, regardless of how many overtime hours worked. However, these employees must perform certain duties consistent with what the FLSA’s provisions outline.
Managers, for instance, must have the ability to make important decisions for the business. Those duties can include hiring and firing workers, setting pay rates, and creating work schedules for subordinates. Often times, companies give workers titles like “manager” and “supervisor” but do not ask workers to perform any duties consistent with what the FLSA expects to see.
Under the FLSA, wage theft victims can recover up to three years of unpaid overtime with interest, liquidated damages equal to lost wages, attorney’s fees, and any other relief courts may see fit to award. Additionally, some courts impose oversight and reform requirements on defendants to ensure future wage theft cannot take place.
Assistant Manager Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
Call (855) 754-2795 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page if you feel that your wage rights are being violated under the FLSA. Our top-rated team of unpaid wage lawyers will evaluate your situation to determine your best course of action to help you seek justice.
Our office will also determine if it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit against your employer. Because strict time limitations apply for filing these types of claims, we advise you contact our experienced unpaid overtime wage attorneys at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.