Wages Archives | HKM Employment Attorneys LLP

Wal-Mart Contractor to Pay $4.7 Million for Wage Theft

Over 500 Schneider Logistics employees became part of a lawsuit against the company for underpayment and denial of rest and meal breaks. Schneider Logistics operates warehouses for Wal-Mart products, including Wal-Mart’s largest warehouse on the West Coast. The Claim According to the Los Angeles Times article, the employees filed their lawsuit in March of 2012 and reached a settlement in December of 2013. In the lawsuit, the employees claimed managers

Will SeaTac Set the Stage for Raising Minimum Wage?

Minimum wage has been a hot button issue in 2013, with several states across the country raising their minimum wage amounts and Washington, D.C. lawmakers trying to do so on the federal level. Fast food workers in particular have been walking off the job, demanding a wage increase to $15.00 per hour. Corporate giants such as Wal-Mart and McDonald’s have drawn attention to the discrepancy between minimum wage and a

15% Of Young People Not Working Or Going To School

When people think about a better economic future, they generally think about more education or working their way to higher paying or better employment. There are anecdotes for both paths. On the one hand there are the well-educated people who get the better jobs or the well-trained people who can command better hourly wages. On the other hand there are the Steve Jobs and Bill Gates who skip traditional educational

Wal-Mart and McDonald’s Fuel the Living Wage Debate Again (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this article, we looked at the recent controversy surrounding a holiday food drive Wal-mart held for its own underpaid employees. The food drive for needy employees seemed to acknowledge that the retail giant does not pay its workers a living wage. The term living wage is different from minimum wage. Minimum wage is the minimum hourly rate employers must pay employees as set by both federal

SeaTac Voters Approve $15 Minimum Wage

After numerous fast food worker strikes, debates on the nation’s minimum wage, and stories about companies making as much in profits as their employees receive in government aid, it looks like SeaTac will be raising its minimum wage. Latest results show SeaTac voters narrowly passing Proposition 1 in this week’s election. If the results hold, starting January 1, 2014, the minimum wage in SeaTac will become $15 an hour. The

The Importance of a Living Wage

The issue of the living wage has become the center of many debates and conversations across the United States as of late. Separate from minimum wage, living wage refers to the minimum amount of income a person requires to meet basic needs based on their circumstances, such as family, dependents, other household contributors, and geographic location. A living wage should be enough for a person working forty hours a week

Spokane Wage Gap – Is It a Problem?

The Spokane Journal of Business recently published an article which might cause worry among some in the area. The story noted how newly released information indicates that the average hourly wage in Spokane is about 6% behind the nationwide average–$20.65/hour compared with the $22.01/hour. According to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor, this represented a slightly widening gap as the discrepancy was only 5% the prior year. The

An Overview of Minimum Wage for 2014

As discussed previously on this blog, minimum wage was a hot topic in 2013 and is expected to continue to be so in this New Year. In fact, the issue of raising the minimum wage at the federal level is expected to be a key issue in the 2014 midterm Congressional elections. Furthermore, Democrats in many states are pushing minimum wage legislation in an effort to win the votes of

Will the US Supreme Court Clarify Whether Its Decision in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes Applies to All Class Actions (Including Wage and Hour Class Actions)?

That’s certainly what the Retail Litigation Center (RLC) and a group of business associations are hoping. This group recently filed a “friend of the court” (amicus curiae) brief with the US Supreme Court urging the Court to hear an appeal of the Seventh Circuit’s decision in RBS Citizens, N.A. v. Ross. The group explained its rationale for filing the brief: “Because these business [represented by amici curiae] are frequently targeted

Ledbetter Speaks at the Democratic National Convention

Legal decisions issued by the federal courts, and particularly the U.S. Supreme Court, frequently have a political dimension. With each election, one or both major political parties frequently invoke such cases for political purposes. In this election cycle, one case that appears to be getting significant attention is the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire, 550 S. Ct ___ (2007) a case of statutory interpretation of

Wage Class Action Settled for $5.25 Million

The City of Colorado Springs agreed to pay police officers $5.25 Million in a wage and hour class action lawsuit. The suit concerned the classification of Sergeants as exempt employees under overtime laws and the time spent by police officers before and after their scheduled shifts — off-the-clock “donning and doffing” activities.

Starbucks Baristas Awarded $106 Million for Wage Claims

Last week, we wrote about the wage claim class action concerning the tip jar at Starbucks stores in California. A class of an estimated 120,000 Starbucks baristas requested pay for their fair share of money from the tip jar. The court has awarded $105 million. The suit alleged that store managers and supervisors shared in the tip jar in violation of California law. The class plaintiffs argued that Starbucks should

“Tens of Millions” from the Starbucks Tip Jar?

How much money is there in a coffee house tip jar? A trial is underway in San Diego to find out. The court will be asked to award damages to employees who allegedly were denied a fair share from the tip jar at Starbucks. The class action on behalf of an estimated 120,000 Starbucks baristas alleges that store managers or supervisors shared in the tip jar in violation of California

$46,000 In Attorney’s Fees for $44 in Unpaid Wages?

In most states, including Washington, an employee who wins a lawsuit for unpaid wages is entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees. As most employers know, a getting sued for unpaid wages brings additional risks that the company must pay the unpaid wages plus substantial attorney fees, which fees could in many cases be more than the wages owed. In addition, in Washington, an employer can be liable for double damages (double

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Topic: Wages