Matthew Purushotham
Tue, 05/16/2023
On May 9, 2023, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania awarded back wages of more than $22 million based on claims that the East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc., one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers, failed to provide overtime pay to 7,500 workers for all their work hours. The company may be liable for an additional $22 million in liquidated damages.
The jury award followed an earlier summary judgment order that found that the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime provisions by failing to pay uniformed workers for all of their work time. The company compensated workers for only their eight scheduled hours of work but left uncompensated the time required for workers to put on and remove protective equipment and shower to protect themselves from lead and other materials to which they were exposed on the job. Employers must compensate their employees for such post-shift time where it is necessary and indispensable to their work.
McGillivary Steele Elkin has represented tens of thousands of workers in cases involving unpaid overtime. If you are concerned that your employer has unlawfully withheld overtime pay from you and other workers, contact us at info@mselaborlaw.com.
