Casino Workers Recover $6M in Owed Wages

Casino workers at a Pennsylvania casino who alleged they were owned significant wages have reached a substantial settlement to resolve their claims. The $6 million deal will settle allegations that tips were deducted from their pay without the proper notice required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). Nearly 3,000 casino workers, which include non-exempt, hourly, table games dealers and other similarly situated employees, stand to benefit from this payout.

This lawsuit, which was filed last March, claimed that the casinofailed to properly notify its employees about the tip credit provisions. Under the FLSA, employers are allowed tocompensate its tipped employees at a lower applicable “tipped” minimum wage rate but must adhere to strict requirements ofsuitable notification of the tipped minimum wage rate or their intent to apply a tip credit to their wages. Additionally, the casino allegedly improperly classified gaming licenses as a deductible benefit instead of prerequisite of employment. These illicit deductions reduced the casino workers compensation below the required minimum wage and overtime rate under local state laws and the FLSA for all hours worked.

Knowing if you’re getting paid properly is not always straightforward. Paystubs contain a lot of information that can indicate if you may be owed wages but deciphering them isn’t always easy. Consulting with an employment attorney may help you understand your paychecks to see if you are getting all the wages you’re entitled to. Our firm, Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP, offers a free and confidential consultation and can be reached at (212) 300-0375. You can also visit our website here for additional information regarding your rights.