Texas Wage Compensation Lawsuit

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced in a January 29, 2010 News Release posted at http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20100073.htm that it has recovered more than $1 million in overtime back wages for 798 former and current processing workers at a poultry processor’s Dallas facility.  According to the DOL News Release, the poultry processing company also agreed to pay for time spent by employees “donning and doffing,” or putting on and taking off work-related gear in all processing plants nationwide.  As stated in the News Release, the agreement marks another major step in the DOL’s poultry initiative, which is aimed at ensuring that the poultry processing industry pays its workers all wages to which they are entitled.  In this regard, the agreement settles allegations that Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation failed to properly pay overtime back wages as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  The FLSA’s overtime violations occurred allegedly in part because the company failed to pay its employees for all hours worked, including time spent putting on and taking off protective clothing.  Additionally, required recordkeeping was allegedly not maintained.  The DOL’s legal action followed an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division.

For more information about the FLSA, one may call the Wage and Hour Division’s Dallas District Office at 817-861-2150 or the DOL’s toll-free helpline at 866-487-9243.  Information is also made available on the internet at http://www.wagehour.dol.gov . 

Whether overtime wage payment violations occur in Dallas, Corpus Christi, Houston or elsewhere, victims may contact the DOL or an attorney to determine if a wage compensation lawsuit is ultimately appropriate under the particular circumstances and facts of the potential FLSA violation claim.