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Plaintiffs in a Dollar Tree employee lawsuit have requested approval for a $2.5 million settlement to end the suit, according to Law360. Plaintiffs allege that Dollar Tree distribution centers committed wage violations including not allowing employees proper break and rest periods. The plaintiff class includes anyone who worked at a Dollar Tree distribution center between April 2011 and the end of 2019.
Dollar Tree Employee Arbitration Agreements
According to Law360, Plaintiff Terry Snipes brought his claim against Dollar Tree Distribution Inc. in April 2015. The suit and class membership have been complicated by Dollar Tree’s employee arbitration program.
Lead plaintiff Terry Snipes opted out of this program before filing his suit. In May, U.S. District Judge Morrison England was asked by Dollar Tree to enforce arbitration measures signed by about 1,600 employees after the October 6, 2014 cutoff.
The judge forced the claims into arbitration and dismissed claims made by employees who signed arbitration pacts after the Oct. cutoff under the California Private Attorneys General Act. However, these 1,600 employees are still eligible to access the Dollar Tree employee lawsuit settlement.
The workers said in Friday’s preliminary settlement motion, “While certain of the settlement class members agreed to arbitrate their claims with defendant on an individual basis, defendant agrees, for purposes of settlement only, that the claims of such settlement class members are typical of plaintiffs’ claims.”
The Dollar Tree Employee Lawsuit Settlement
In the Dollar Tree employee lawsuit, plaintiffs alleged that Dollar Tree’s labor and wage practices are in violation of California law. Workers allege the company failed to give appropriate breaks and maintained poor timekeeping practices.
Negotiations and significant litigation have led to a tentative settlement. The requested settlement of $2.5 million is seen as a big victory for the workers.
The workers said the settlement represents “an outstanding result in light of the strengths and weaknesses in the case. In light of the significant risks involved in this matter the settlement represents an excellent result for the settlement class” in their preliminary settlement motion.
The settlement includes $125,000 to go towards claims filed under the California Private Attorneys General Act with $93,000 of that amount going to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Another $750,000 will go towards attorney fees, according to Law360. The roughly 2,400 class members of the settlement will receive an average of $625 each. Any uncashed settlement checks are meant to be sent to the Veterans Legal Institute.
Dollar Tree’s History of Employee Mistreatment
Good Jobs First estimates that Dollar Tree and its divisions have committed 13 wage and labor violations since 2000 resulting in fines of $65,328,128. This is by far the most costly of Dollar Tree’s violations, but employee discrimination is a close second resulting $45,218,750 in penalties for the company. The Dollar Tree employee lawsuit is only the tip of the iceberg of Dollar Tree’s alleged violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor also reports that a Dollar Tree in Pennsylvania put employees in danger by blocking emergency exits, failing to secure dangerous materials, failing to maintain sanitary bathrooms, and improperly storing and maintaining materials such as electric panels.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found similar violations at another store in Massachusetts. All told, these two locations racked up more than $800,000 for putting employees in hazardous situations.
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75 thoughts onDollar Tree Employee Lawsuit Reaches $2.5M Settlement
You guys know if there’s any number to reach I don’t live in the same address where I think I’m supposed to receive the check is there’s any information about the lawyer or who should I contact ? Thanks
I was an assistant manager in Maywood New Jersey I worked days with no break and weeks with no coverage I had worked over 80 hrs and they wouldn’t get help I worked sick and even need cashiers they never tired to help our store they complained that we were always over hours and we had to cut ppl off the schedule it was so bad I got punched from a customer for stopping him at the door for stealing and DOLLAR TREE didn’t do anything about it it’s about time ppl start doing something with this cheap company 7yrs and never received a full raise sad
I was a store manager. I would work weeks without a day off. I would regularly work 60 to 90 hours a week. I once worked 36 hours straight for an inventory. Once was made to work a 16 hour shift with the stomach flu , throwing up every 15 minutes. Dollar tree did not care about their employees, constantly made to work in unsafe conditions , never given enough payroll to manage the store effectively. It was a nightmare. I was given instructions to be on reduced hours/light duty by my doctor during a pregnancy. I was pretty much told by the hr manager to take my “unpaid” leave early if I abided by doctors orders. So without extra help I still had to unload trucks and do heavy labor. I ended up having an emergency induction because I couldn’t afford to take off early.
I was a merchandise manager for dollar tree in Seneca, SC. I worked over 40 hours a week but was only paid up to 40. The store manager actually paid me out of pocket. I worked for the company for almost 5 months and never actually took a break. I would set an alarm on my phone so I would remember to clock in because we worked from clock in to clock out. If the store manager thought we would be over on hours she would alter times of employees. I would love to be a part of a lawsuit. That company should be ashamed.
SE Iowa store; same payroll fraud happenjng with DM’s encouragement. Was forced out after whistle blowing cashiers not being paid for after hours bank runs. After they started retroactively paying us, DM actually asked if we enjoyed our bonus?!? And then catching more payroll fraud with mgr adding unpaid 30 min breaks and 10 min breaks at will. Final straw was seeing this adjustment again at a time I know I was on the floor, under a camera; goal? Final writeup for working off the clock…thankfully our ever diligent, fed up ASM checked every day for anomalies and fixed them, repeatedly reminding Mgr and DM of legal aspect of payroll manipulation.
I worked at a dollar tree as assistant manager in Muskogee Oklahoma had no our lot brakes had to be there if no one was there for lunch to help through lunch I was attempted robbery on me were a man had tased me four times and nothing was ever done we had to take money to the bank at the end of our shift at night time me and a cashier I don’t think this is safe I could’ve been killed or others could’ve been killed I want lips coming to me
This not only happening in the US, in Ontario Canada we are having the same issues. Its very disturbing to read all these comments and suits against the company. I wish my daughter would have known all these issues were happening in the US before she started working for the company here in Canada. I think we will have to start the process here in Canada.
Worked at Dollar Tree from November 2019 until September 2020 at the MacArthur Dr. Store in Alexandria Louisiana. No coverage for hourly managers to take breaks or meals. Also time adjusted.
I worked at the dollar tree in baton rouge la. I clocked out for the day. The manager asked me to do something else. I refused and was fired. Can I added?
I got it.
Does anyone know the number to who you’re supposed to contact I’ve lost my paperwork and can’t find the email any longer
You received your check
Did you get your check
I’m still waiting for my check, I was told it would be after the new year and I would get it in the mail. Well was that a lie ???
Well it’s not here yet and it’s the middle of February. Couldn’t they at least give us some kind of time that we could start looking for it. ???
Alresseia Byrd dollar tree class act law suit some one from your office said needed my mailing address employees received 625.00 from the settlement 4801 Danube lane apt 1108 Durham North Carolina 27704
How do you change your address to get the check because I have moved from that address