Overtime Lawsuits on the Rise

This year has seen an historically high number of lawsuits seeking compensation for unpaid overtime work.

2012-07-25

July 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) A recent USA Today report reveals an unexpected consequence of our country's economic woes -- more lawsuits seeking compensation for unpaid overtime. There were 32 percent more unpaid overtime lawsuits filed in 2011 than in the three years prior.

Legal experts deduce that the number of lawsuits has risen sharply due in part to the fact that myriad companies have slashed labor forces in an effort to cut costs. This leaves fewer workers with a higher workload than before, often at a lower wage or without being fairly compensated for extra hours put in on the job. Many of these workers are afraid to complain about the unfair treatment because they fear losing their jobs and -- with a nationwide unemployment rate still hovering around 10 percent -- not being able to find another one.

Improper Employee Classification?

Only non-managerial employees in Pennsylvania are eligible for overtime compensation. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act defines managerial workers as those who are engaged in a bona fide executive or administrative capacity and are "paid on a salaried basis instead of an hourly wage."

Employers may justify cutting wages for their remaining staff by allowing for the possibility of overtime pay for additional hours worked, but oftentimes will classify employees in such a way that they are not eligible for overtime compensation. This leaves the employees overworked, underpaid and more determined than ever before to seek a fair wage for their labors.

Overtime lawsuits are one way that exhausted employees can seek fair compensation for the effort they put in that goes above and beyond what should be expected of them. Sometimes employees are wary of seeking compensation for unpaid overtime, but both federal and state laws provide a legal avenue to do so. If you have questions about overtime compensation that you deserve, speak with a local employment law attorney to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Article provided by McCarthy Weisberg Cummings, P.C.
Visit us at www.discrimination-harassment-law.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Some Philadelphia Area Tax Preparers Charged With Fraud

2012-07-25

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." It is an old adage, but it bears repeating. Unfortunately, a recent article in Forbes magazine reveals that many innocent taxpayers who think they are getting something good and having their taxes professionally prepared for a low price are instead becoming the victims of tax scams by trusting "unscrupulous preparers." Although most tax preparers continue to run honest and legitimate practices, some are taking advantage of clients. Three professionals in the Philadelphia area alone were barred from ...

Tasers: Useful Tool or Excessive Force?

2012-07-25

The United States Supreme Court has refused to hear two cases regarding the use of Tasers by law enforcement, missing an opportunity to clarify existing law and better protect Taser victims injured by law enforcement in the line of duty. While the high court has yet to evaluate their use, many in the legal community question the use of these painful devices when trying to subdue individuals suspected of a crime. A Missed Opportunity to Clarify Taser Law In one case, three police officers from Seattle wanted a chance to clear their names from an excessive use of ...

Is it Constitutional to Ban Sex Offenders From Social Networks?

2012-07-25

Last month, a Federal District Court Judge in Indianapolis upheld an Indiana law prohibiting sex offenders from accessing social networking websites after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged the law as part of a class action on behalf of sex offenders. The judge reasoned that the law did not violate the constitutional rights of a defendant. The constitutionality of banning sex offenders from Internet websites has been brought to light recently and continues to be a hot topic. The Case In the most recent case of Doe v. Prosecutor, Marion County, ...

Texas Child Support Orders After the Age of Majority

2012-07-25

Most people understand the basics of child support. They know that child support payments are ordered to provide funds for the care and welfare of children. The money is generally paid with blanket instructions to the children's caregivers to use the money for the children's physical, mental, educational and religious upbringing, but some child support orders are more detailed, breaking down precisely how the money is to be spent. Some child support orders are valid for particular lengths of time, and some are open-ended. For the most part, though, Texas child support ...

New Fall Protection Measures Soon to Take Effect

2012-07-25

In an effort to reduce the number of falls in residential construction projects, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) will soon begin its enforcement measures stemming from its latest residential fall protection directive (STD 03-11-002). Under this new directive, employers are required to provide roofers and construction workers with fall protection equipment whenever work is performed six feet or higher above the ground. The new directive will become effective on September 15, 2012. It allows workers to use a number of safety measures, including ...

Illinois Drivers Must Carry Liability, Uninsured Motorist Coverage

2012-07-25

Illinois requires all drivers to carry minimum amounts of automobile insurance to operate vehicles in the state. Unfortunately, some motorists choose to ignore this law, which means that drivers they injure in an accident could be left high and dry with burdensome medical costs. In anticipation of these situations, it is imperative that drivers purchase uninsured motorist insurance to cover themselves in the event of car accidents with uninsured motorists or hit-and-run accidents. Minimum Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois Illinois requires that all drivers have ...

Taser Debate Increases as the Supreme Court Declines to Hear Excessive Force Cases

2012-07-25

The debate on whether Taser use by police officers constitutes excessive force is gaining more steam even after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear two cases coming from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In one case, a pregnant woman was shocked three times by Seattle police officers after she refused to sign a traffic ticket for driving 32 miles per hour in a 20 m.p.h. school zone. Another case involved a Hawaii woman who was "Tasered" while officers attempted to arrest her husband following a domestic abuse call. Both women filed suit against ...

Understanding Summer Rental Car Insurance Options

2012-07-25

Now that summer is here, many Americans are taking vacations and consequently using rental cars at increasing rates. Navigating the convoluted world of car rental insurance can put a damper on the season's festivities. Fortunately, there are a few things consumers can learn and act upon to ensure they are protected in the event of a motor vehicle accident involving a rental car. Rental Car Insurance Options Car renters have a few options for rental car insurance, including coverage provided by their personal automotive policies, non-owner automotive insurance policies, ...

New Massachusetts Alimony Law Makes Divorce Less of a Gamble

2012-07-25

Until recently, the prospect of alimony in Massachusetts was filled with uncertainty for spouses in a divorce. Courts had significant latitude to order lifetime alimony, even after short marriages. Going to court to overturn alimony in a divorce could be a gamble. Sparked in part by a Massachusetts man who spent more than $250,000 and entered bankruptcy after a judge refused to reduce his $45,000-a-year alimony payments, a task force of family law attorneys, legislators and others created a proposal for the most dramatic and fundamental changes to the state's divorce ...

Study: Connecticut Women Less Likely to Violate Cellphone Ban

2012-07-25

A recent study of Connecticut drivers has disproven the old myth that women can't stop talking on the phone. Since the law banning hand-held cellphones went into effect six years ago, men have consistently been ticketed more often than women for talking on hand-held cellphones or texting while driving. The study, conducted by the Associated Press, found that, of the total number of drivers ticketed for distracted driving in 2006, between 52 and 54 percent were men. In 2011 alone, men received nearly 16,000 tickets while women got only 13,690; in 2010, the tally of tickets ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Printed skin to replace animal testing

Precision medicine could be possible in the fight against antibiotic resistance

Researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University identify new targeted approach to protect neurons against degeneration

Scientists uncover the first clear evidence of air sacs in the fossilized bones of alvarezsaurian dinosaurs: the "hollow bones" which help modern day birds to fly

[Press-News.org] Overtime Lawsuits on the Rise
This year has seen an historically high number of lawsuits seeking compensation for unpaid overtime work.