RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration has reportedly asked the City Council to approve a $2.7 million settlement with 54 workers from the Department of Social Services over unpaid overtime wages.
Employees in the lawsuit allege they were routinely forced to work in excess of 40 hours a week whilst denied overtime wages.
The employees claim that their supervisors told them they needed to “do whatever it takes” to accomplish their jobs during a 40 hour pay period.
To keep up with their workload, the plaintiffs claim they often had to work through their lunch breaks, continue work from home, and use weekend time to work cases.
Despite their protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the plaintiffs allege they were never paid the overtime wages they were due. Now, the City Council will most likely have to approve a budget amendment to pay workers for their back overtime wages.
The payment would need to come from the Richmond’s Office of Risk Management by way of city’s revenue stabilization and contingency policy. While neither side has had much comment on the issue, the measure seems likely to pass given the fact the city recently settled another lawsuit related to unpaid overtime wages for city employees.
Last year, Richmond settled a $750,000 unpaid overtime wage lawsuit with 26 employees from the Department of Social Services. After spending an additional $200,000 to conduct a citywide review of how social services and other department employees are classified to avoid more such lawsuits, the total cost of the ordeal to the city will top $3.6 million.
The unpaid overtime wage lawsuit with the city’s social workers is just the latest such lawsuit Richmond has faced in recent years.
In 2011, Richmond paid $7 million to settle claims with its police force over unpaid overtime. Nearby Henrico County paid $3.5 million in 2012 to settle a police overtime wage lawsuit with its officers.
Police Overtime Wage Claims
Call (855) 754-2795 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page if you feel that you and and other employees believe 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.