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May 27
Fitapelli & Schaffer has filed a lawsuit against Eventlink alleging widespread overtime and wage violations affecting workers across multiple states, including New York, California, Indiana, and Nevada. The complaint, filed by attorneys Joseph Fitapelli and Armando Ortiz, alleges that Eventlink failed to properly compensate workers for overtime hours despite routinely requiring long shifts and extensive workweeks.
Continue ReadingMay 22
A former hourly worker has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Yelp Inc. in California, alleging that the company failed to pay employees for all hours worked and violated several wage and hour laws. The lawsuit claims that workers were required to log in through their computers to begin their shifts, but were not compensated for the time spent waiting for those systems to boot up, which could take several minutes each day.
Continue ReadingApr 17
Fitapelli & Schaffer LLP has filed a new lawsuit against Total Directional Services LLC, alleging that the company failed to properly pay overtime wages to oilfield workers across the United States.
Continue ReadingMar 27
We are pleased to provide an important update in our case against Luck Grove Construction Inc. and Luck Grove Telecom Inc.
Continue ReadingMar 27
Workers at both Dunkin’ Donuts and Taco Bell locations in New York City may be entitled to compensation following a major settlement involving alleged violations of the city’s Fair Workweek Law. A large franchise operator that owns and operates multiple fast-food locations across Manhattan and Queens has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million after a city investigation found widespread scheduling abuses affecting hundreds of employees.
Continue ReadingMar 25
Tyson Foods Inc. must continue defending against the majority of a proposed class action lawsuit alleging wage and hour violations at one of its processing plants. A federal court recently ruled that a worker plausibly alleged that interrupted meal breaks and automatic time deductions resulted in unpaid wages, allowing several key claims to move forward.
Continue ReadingFeb 9
GEICO has agreed to pay $900,000 to resolve multiple lawsuits alleging that the company failed to properly pay call center employees for all hours worked. A federal judge in Georgia recently gave final approval to the settlement, bringing an end to claims that workers were required to perform unpaid work before and after their scheduled shifts.
Continue ReadingDec 16
New York State’s minimum wage will rise again on January 1, 2026, as part of the state’s multi-year plan to gradually increase wages for low-income workers. Under the updated rates, workers in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County must be paid at least 17 dollars per hour. Workers in the rest of New York State must be paid at least 16 dollars per hour. These increases reflect another 50 cent raise from the 2025 rates and continue a statewide effort to ensure wages keep pace with rising living costs.
Continue ReadingDec 2
New York City has reached a $38.9 million settlement with Starbucks after investigators found the company committed violations of the city’s Fair Workweek Law. This is the largest worker-protection settlement in NYC history and will provide payments to more than 15,000 hourly employees from 300 Starbucks’ locations.
Continue ReadingNov 21
A federal judge in Idaho has granted preliminary approval to a $2.1 million settlement resolving wage claims against a group of Papa John’s franchise operators. The agreement will benefit nearly 3,000 current and former pizza delivery drivers who alleged that the company’s pay policies led to violations of both federal and state labor laws.
Continue ReadingOct 16
A reality TV lawsuit was recently filed in California Superior Court against Netflix, Kinetic Content, and Delirium TV (“Defendants”), the producers of the hit reality series Love Is Blind. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of all reality show contestants who participated in the show within the past four years, as well as others involved in similar reality television productions.
Continue ReadingJun 17
On June 13, 2025, a former KFC employee filed a class action lawsuit against Value FoodService LLC and its subsidiaries—QSR NYC LLC, QSR NY LLC, and QSR East LLC—as well as CEO Jonathan Blob. These companies operate at least 20 KFC locations in New York City and are accused of violating the New York City Fair Workweek Law, the New York Labor Law (NYLL), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Continue ReadingJun 16
The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a unanimous decision reinforcing that all workers—regardless of their race, sexual orientation, or membership in a majority or minority group—are entitled to the same legal standard when pursuing employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Continue ReadingJun 12
A Washington-based steel manufacturer has agreed to pay $6.15 million to resolve claims that it failed to fully compensate its hourly employees for all hours worked.
Continue ReadingApr 25
In a significant decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that commissions qualify as wages under state law. This ruling is a major victory for employees who rely on commissions as part of their earnings, including a former sales manager who claimed she was owed $1.3 million in unpaid commissions after selling over $32 million in personal protective equipment (PPE) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue ReadingFeb 28
On March 26, 2024, Fitapelli & Schaffer filed a class action lawsuit against a Taco Bell franchise in NYC, MHF Ralph LLC and related entities (“Taco Bell”). The lawsuit claims that Taco Bell violated the New York Labor Law (“NYLL”) and New York City’s Fair Workweek Law by failing to compensate hourly employees properly. The lawsuit alleges that Taco Bell failed to pay employees for “spread of hours” shifts, did not provide extra pay for “clopening” shifts, and failed to compensate workers for last-minute schedule changes. Additionally, Taco Bell required employees to maintain uniforms without providing the legally required uniform maintenance pay.
Continue ReadingFeb 20
A former Wendy’s employee has filed a class action lawsuit against NY Bacon LLC, which operates several Wendy’s franchises in New York City. The lawsuit claims that NY Bacon LLC violated the New York City Fair Workweek Law by not providing predictable work schedules, adequate notice of schedule changes, and other required protections for fast food workers. Specific issues include not giving a written estimate of work schedules, changing schedules without proper notice or consent, not offering new shifts to current employees before hiring new ones, and firing employees without just cause or a written explanation.
Continue ReadingFeb 10
A California state judge has largely rejected an attempt by Apple to dismiss a proposed class action alleging consistent pay disparities affecting female employees. The lawsuit claims that women in various divisions of the company have been consistently underpaid compared to their male counterparts, violating the California Equal Pay Act and Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Continue ReadingJan 9
A new wage and hour class action lawsuit accuses Staples of violating California labor laws by forcing employees to work off-the-clock, skip legally mandated breaks, and perform tasks without pay. The complaint, recently moved to federal court in California, follows similar claims filed by Staples employees in the past year.
Continue ReadingNov 1
A Connecticut-based home healthcare logistics company, involved in a federal lawsuit over wage practices, has reached an agreement with a former employee to conditionally certify a collective in their federal wage lawsuit, dismissing most claims but keeping the allegation of unpaid off-the-clock work.
Continue ReadingOct 3
T-Mobile USA Inc. is accused of underpaying on-call technicians by offering a flat rate for overtime that falls below legal standards, according to a collective action filed in Washington federal court.
Continue ReadingSep 12
According to a proposed class action lawsuit filed in California state court, rapper DaBaby’s hip-hop label was allegedly misclassifying its performers as independent contractors to evade paying them overtime and minimum wages. The lawsuit further accuses the label of imposing strict restrictions on their meal and bathroom breaks.
Continue ReadingAug 14
The U.S. Department of Labor has successfully retrieved close to $270,000 in unpaid wages and damages for 76 laborers working on an onion farm. This came after an investigation which revealed that an Idaho business provided inadequate housing and failed to pay overtime wages.
Continue ReadingJul 30
A Cook County judge finalized a $2.4 million settlement, concluding litigation accusing Crate & Barrel of violating Illinois’ biometric privacy law. The lawsuit alleged that the company required employees to scan their fingerprints for timekeeping purposes without obtaining their written, informed consent.
Continue ReadingJul 3
Zara, the fast-fashion retailer, has agreed to a $1.25 million settlement to resolve allegations that it failed to include commissions in overtime pay calculations for approximately 500 employees. This agreement, which requires approval from a New York federal judge, was detailed in a letter filed by the employees’ attorneys at Fitapelli & Schaffer.
Continue ReadingMay 9
A United Airlines affiliate responsible for plane cleaning services allegedly did not adequately compensate cabin workers for overtime hours worked outside of their scheduled shifts, as alleged in a proposed class action lawsuit that the company, United Ground Express, transferred to Colorado federal court.
Continue ReadingApr 11
A federal judge in Ohio provisionally approved the certification of a group of food distribution employees who alleged that they were required to work off-the-clock and during breaks without compensation. The judge stated that the workers demonstrated the company’s policies were consistently enforced across the board.
Continue ReadingMar 6
Amid the aftermath of the pandemic, many employers have introduced weekly attendance bonuses to encourage employees to return to the office. However, many employees have now claimed attendance bonuses should be considered when calculating overtime pay and that by failing to do so, an employer is violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Continue ReadingJan 26
Global Payments Inc., a financial technology company, has agreed to settle a lawsuit with over 100 remote customer service workers. The employees claimed they were systematically underpaid for the significant time spent starting up and logging into their computers systems daily. The agreement follows a mediation last month, and the parties anticipate finalizing the terms and submitting settlement approval papers in February.
Continue ReadingDec 19
New York is set to see a significant shift in its minimum wage laws come January 2024, promising a crucial advancement for employees reliant on these baseline earnings. This change stands as a solid measure in addressing the mounting challenges posed by the ever-increasing cost of living and inflation.
Continue ReadingNov 3
A $3.7 million settlement between a meat processor and a class of employees in Ohio has been granted approval by a federal judge, effectively resolving their unpaid overtime claims and closing the case permanently.
Continue ReadingOct 26
A federal judge in Seattle has rejected the majority of T-Mobile’s request to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit accusing the company of enabling SIM swap scams through its service. While two of the plaintiff’s claims have been dismissed, the judge has permitted the continuation of the remaining four allegations.
Continue ReadingOct 17
In the world of employment law, the term “clopening” has gained traction in recent years, sparking discussions about fair labor practices in fast food restaurants. A clopening shift refers to the practice of scheduling an employee to close the business at night and then return to open it the next morning, often leaving little time for rest and recovery. This practice can be physically and mentally demanding and has raised concerns about its impact on employee well-being and safety.
Continue ReadingOct 4
On Thursday, a judge ruled in favor of New York City regulators, allowing them to proceed with increasing the minimum wages for app-based food delivery workers. This decision came after three major delivery companies contested the rule.
Continue ReadingSep 15
A former Spirit Airlines flight attendant claims that the airline is unlawfully denying employees their entitled unpaid family or medical leave by failing to accurately account for all the hours worked, which is a violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This assertion is part of a proposed class action lawsuit filed in a federal court in Nevada.
Continue ReadingAug 27
The U.S. Department of Labor has given the green light to a new rule under the Davis-Bacon Act that changes how prevailing wages are determined for construction projects funded by the federal government. This update will lead to a significant change to wage assessments and is great news for those in the construction industry.
Continue ReadingAug 4
In a significant development for Home Depot and its employees, a federal judge in California granted initial approval for a substantial $72.5 million settlement. This settlement brings an end to a prolonged and complex legal battle that spanned seven years, addressing class claims accusing Home Depot of neglecting to compensate its workers for off-the-clock work.
Continue ReadingJul 26
A recent decision by a New York state judge has postponed the implementation of a new rule in New York City that aimed to raise the minimum wage for app-based delivery workers. Companies like Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber have challenged the rule, arguing that the rule was biased, which led to a delay in its enforcement. The judge has scheduled a hearing for the end of July to further address the matter.
Continue ReadingJul 7
A group of current and former employees of The Walt Disney Co. have filed a lawsuit alleging that the company has unfairly paid women in middle management positions at least $150 million less than their male coworkers in similar roles. The employees are seeking class treatment for their case and have presented their claims to a judge in Los Angeles.
Continue ReadingJun 22
In a significant move to tackle the issues faced by delivery workers, New York City has introduced a new law that establishes an increased minimum wage for food couriers employed by delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Relay, and Grubhub. The main purpose of this law is to respond to the concerns raised by labor rights activists and the city’s comptroller, who have highlighted their belief that the existing minimum pay is inadequate in covering the exorbitant living costs in NYC and the many expenses associated with being a delivery driver.
Continue ReadingJun 14
A recent development in Maryland involves a magistrate judge’s recommendation that a nightclub pay $1.1 million to a group of dancers who filed a lawsuit for unpaid wages. The dancers claimed they were intentionally misclassified as independent contractors to avoid proper payment.
Continue ReadingMay 17
Kronos, a company that provides workforce management services, has reportedly agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a group of its employees. The employees alleged that Kronos was negligent in its duty to prevent a ransomware attack in 2021, which led to the theft of their personal data. As per the recent court filing, Kronos has agreed to pay a maximum of $6 million to settle the lawsuit.
Continue ReadingApr 28
MadiCorp, a temporary staffing company, is facing a proposed collective action filed in a federal court in New York by two ex-employees who claimed that the company transported them to their workplace early every morning but did not compensate them for the overtime hours.
Continue ReadingApr 14
Old Dominion Freight Company is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in Illinois federal court, alleging that the company’s timekeeping platform unlawfully scanned and retained employees’ fingerprints without their permission. According to the lawsuit filed by John Kararo, the company made workers use a unique “biometric identifier” to log in and out of the time clock system to track hours and attendance, which violates the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
Continue ReadingApr 10
As early as May 2023, employees may see changes to the U.S. Department of Labor’s overtime regulations. Three U.S. Senate Democrats have proposed a bill that would increase the minimum salary requirement for overtime exemption from $684 per week, or about $36,000 per year, to $75,000 per year by 2026. Additionally, the bill seeks to permanently link the exemption threshold to the 55th percentile of earnings for workers, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Currently, fewer than 15% of all full-time salaried workers receive overtime pay.
Continue ReadingMar 17
Workers across the United States that are bound by noncompete agreements may have some good news coming. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has suggested a new regulation that would prohibit employers from enforcing non-compete agreements on their employees. This common and frequently unjust practice limits salaries, inhibits creativity, and prevents entrepreneurs from launching new businesses. According to the FTC, this proposed rule could enhance overall salaries by approximately $300 billion annually and create more career prospects for around 30 million people by putting an end to this practice.
Continue ReadingMar 3
A federal judge in California has ordered Virgin America Inc. and Alaska Airlines to pay $31M in unpaid wages and penalties to flight attendants who claimed Virgin America and Defendant Alaska Airlines failed to pay overtime premiums, provide meal periods and rest breaks, provide accurate wage statements, and other violations of the UCL and the PAGA. The ruling applies to all affected flight attendants who have worked for Virgin America, Inc. in California between March 18, 2011 and January 15, 2023. Hundreds of employees will receive a payout from this airline wage class action.
Continue ReadingFeb 28
A recent Supreme Court ruling has upheld a 2021 Fifth Circuit decision which held that despite earning well over minimum wage , if an employee is not paid a set salary by its employer, they may be eligible to earn overtime pay when working over 40 hours per week. This is a huge win for employees across all industries. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), a worker is entitled to overtime pay as long as they do not fall under one of several exemptions, most of which consider in part whether an employee was paid a set salary for all of their hours worked. In the oil industry wage case of Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc., et al v Hewitt, the affected worker, Hewitt, claimed that because his pay was structured as a day rate (or “daily rate”) with his wages dependent on days worked as opposed to a set salary, he should be entitled to overtime.
Continue ReadingFeb 17
Layoffs in the tech industry continue to pile on as we settle into 2023. The wave of hiring freezes and layoffs picked up full steam in 2022 with large tech companies firing more than 5-20% of their work force. Many believe the job cuts are in major part due to over hiring and over paying for talent during the height of the pandemic. Firms hired aggressively to capitalize on the demand for online purchases and social media use during lockdowns.
Continue ReadingFeb 10
Flight attendants for United Airlines have just had their significant wage deal for owed wages confirmed by the courts. A California federal judge has recently given their initial approval of the $53.5 million settlement resolving claims that the major airline failed to provide adequate wage statements as required by California Labor Code. Affected individuals include all current and former flight attendants employed by UnitedAirlines based at a California airport between August 2014 and March 31, 2023. Over 5,000 flight attendants stand to benefit from this payout.
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