Partners Todd Wallace and Stacey Meyaski recently secured and finalized a significant settlement of overtime claims pursued under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) on behalf of a class of construction workers. The employees, which included workers labeled as either “superintendent” and “crew leader,” alleged that the construction company for whom they worked on a FEMA-funded hurricane recovery project in Puerto Rico improperly classified them as exempt employees so as to deny those workers proper overtime pay. The case was pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana at the time of settlement.
This case should serve as a critical reminder to both employees and employers alike that the title of a particular position does not define whether or not that employee is exempt under the FLSA’s overtime provisions. Instead, a myriad of factors must be carefully assessed and taken into consideration when assessing whether an employee’s primary job duty falls within one of the articulated exemptions to the FLSA’s overtime requirements. Wallace Meyaski’s has extensive experience in representing both employees and small business employers on a wide variety of employment litigation and compliance issues, including all aspects of federal and state wage and hour disputes.
For more information regarding how Wallace Meyaski can help you in pursuing your wage and hour claims or protecting your business from similar claims, please contact us here.