McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP (MSE) is actively investigating potential claims against Story Cannabis for tip theft under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and related state labor laws. The investigation focuses on claims by Budtenders for improper tip pooling and unlawful retention of employee tips.
Budtenders and Tip Pooling: Know Your Rights
Under the FLSA, tips are the property of employees. It is unlawful to share your tips with your employer, including with supervisors and managers. Additionally, employers like Story Cannabis cannot use tips to:
- Cover cash register shortages
- Pay for damaged products or inventory
- Cover business expenses
- Pay for staff meals
These important FLSA protections for cannabis industry workers apply even if you are paid more than the minimum wage.
Have You Worked at Story Cannabis as a Budtender in the Last 3 Years?
If you have worked and earned tips as a Budtender for Story Cannabis at any time in the last three years, and you were required to pool your tips and share them with supervisors (leads) and managers, or if Story Cannabis retained your tips to pay for business-related expenses, you may be eligible to recover the tips, liquidated damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
MSE Recovered Thousands of Dollars for Cannabis Industry Workers
McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP has a strong track record of representing cannabis industry workers in tip theft lawsuits across the United States. We help Budtenders recover tips that were unlawfully shared with supervisors and managers, in violation of the FLSA and state laws.
For example, MSE recovered $525,000 for a class of budtenders employed by Schwazze in New Mexico and Colorado for tip-related violations. MSE currently represents Budtenders employed by Curaleaf in Maryland and at High Horse Dispensary in ongoing lawsuits for unlawful tip theft and tip sharing.
Take Action: Contact MSE Today
MSE’s legal practice is dedicated to protecting workers’ rights, including in the rapidly growing cannabis industry, and MSE attorneys have significant experience in tip theft investigations and wage and hour lawsuits.
If you have worked at Story Cannabis as a Budtender in the last three years and would like to learn more about your rights to keep your tips, please complete the contact us form or email us at [email protected] to schedule a free consultation with an attorney about this issue.
