Lowes Home Improvement settles overtime class action suit for nearly $30 million
The world's second largest home improvement retailer, Lowes Home Improvement, will see “off the clock” in an entirely new light, after the recent, class action lawsuit settlement of $29.5 million. It is important to note that Lowes Home Improvement does not does not admit to any wrongdoing and believes it is in compliance with all laws and regulations.
It is hard to believe that a retailer so large would think that they could get away with all of the allegations brought against them. Some of the Plaintiff’s claims against Lowe’s Home Improvements include: making the Plaintiff’s work “off the clock” when not clocked in and requiring them to work after they clocked out, locking plaintiff's in the Lowe’s Home Improvement stores at the end of their shifts and not giving uninterrupted rest breaks and/or meal breaks as required by law. After all of these allegations, it is not hard to believe that the defendant did not pay the plaintiff’s the required overtime.
After seven long tedious years of litigation, set backs and appeals, the plaintiff’s patience and commitment finally paid off. One can’t leave out the fact that the Plaintiff’s counsel was prepared to take Lowes Home Improvement to court after speaking thousands of Lowe’s employees. It is also important to note a very important decision 2003 decision, Parris vs. Superior Court (Lowe’s HIW) 104 Cal.App.4th 285. As they say, the stars aligned and everything came together for the Plaintiff’s in this simple case that started out with allegations from two former employees that claimed they were required to work before and after their normal shifts, but were not paid for working the extra time.
Employees have rights. When are the large companies going to learn this critical piece of information? If you want to learn more about employees rights on overtime, wage and hour requirements (fair pay), and other employment related issues, visit the following for more information on employment law. To read more on the Lowe’s Home Improvement class action settlement, visit the following legal Blog Courtside by Findlaw.
Comments
Iam extremely happy to learn that justice was done for these employees. I was a former employee for
Lowes Home Improvement in 2006,the treatment that I recieved there was absolutely horrible. It was store #2418 in Ruston,La. It is 2009 and justice still has not been served. I don't care if it takes 3 more years justice will be served. A huge shout out to all the employees that were invovled and did not give up.I will post my story when the time is right. Always fight for your rights no matter who or what is invovled.
Posted by: shelia | October 29, 2009 7:40 AM
My spouse works for Lowes in North Carolina and is repeatedly taken advantage of by management there. Unfortunately, with this economy being the way it is, my spouse is stuck there for awhile.
Posted by: unhappy worker | February 12, 2010 1:21 PM