The certification process for FLSA collective actions has typically been a two-step process. The first step is to secure conditional certification, which is often handed out as easily as a
Continue Reading The Times They Are A Changin’–A District Court Rejects The “Usual” Two Tier FLSA Class Action Certification Model
I read an interesting blog post by Epstein Becker on the misunderstood issue of gap time and what that means for employers. It notes that employees must be paid overtime
Continue Reading Gap Time Claims: What Are They And Can Employees Recover Back Wages For Them? Depends On Where The Employer Is Located
I have defended numerous FLSA class actions and a big reason that these cases settle is due to the fee-shifting nature of the statutes involved. A defendant employer not only
Continue Reading Attorneys’ Fees Can Be Won By Plaintiffs Even If Some Claims Are Defeated Or Withdrawn: What’s Going On?
“The dog ate my homework” is a common refrain of school children throughout the ages. Well, there is an adult version of that scenario, such as in this case, where
Continue Reading Company Asserts “Dog Ate My Homework” Theory In Suing Its Payroll Company For Its FLSA Settlement Costs
In exemption cases (or lawsuits), a title means nothing. You can call a janitor a Maintenance Engineer but if his primary duties are sweeping up, he will still be deemed
Continue Reading Exemption Determinations Rely On Actual Duties Performed—What Is The Primary Duty
It is black letter FLSA canon that a promised bonus, such as a production bonus, or longevity bonus, must be included in the regular rate of employees who work overtime
Continue Reading Not Including Promised Bonuses In Regular Rate A Big No-No!
I do a lot of wage hour defense and one of the threats I constantly come up against is a Department of Labor telling me that the owner of the
Continue Reading Personal Liability For Wage Hour Violations: What’s In A Word—Answer- A Lot!
Naturally, an employee who is to testify in a FLSA action cannot be retaliated against. Does that protection extend to someone who makes it known that they want to join
Continue Reading How Far Does FLSA Retaliation Protection Extend: According To the Third Circuit, A Long Way!
Employees get paid overtime when their work hours exceed forty in a “workweek.” This is a simple, yet complicated concept that is essential for employers to understand and be aware
Continue Reading What Is A Workweek Under The FLSA?: Whatever The Employer Says
There has been a great deal of controversy over whether FLSA claims can be released absent judicial or USDOL approval. There have been some courts that have ruled that parties
Continue Reading The Issue Of Judicial Approval On Single Plaintiff FLSA Settlements Continues To Demand Attention