Poultry plant workers at 41 Tyson plants in 12 states will receive some $32 million in a settlement of a twelve year old unpaid wages and overtime suit. Approximately 17,000 employees will receive payments as part of the settlement. The lawsuit claimed that Tyson violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay employees for the time they spent each shift putting on and taking off (also known as donning and doffing) protective gear and clothing.
Source: New York Times
This is a type of unpaid wages and overtime case that is seen fairly often. Some people have the type of jobs for which they have to wear special protective clothing, which they have to put on at their workplace. Since it is something that they have to do at their workplace in order to do their job, they should get paid for the time it takes as it is work.
Lexington, Kentucky overtime lawyer Robert Abell represents employees seeking the unpaid wages and overtime they have earned; contact him at 859-254-7076.
