Nurses Win Fifth Class Action Settlement Over Unpaid Wages in New York

Recent lawsuits against many businesses regarding wage and hour violations have mounted in the United States. Many of these lawsuits concern unpaid overtime, as well as those where firms tried to deem employees independent contractors. In New York, nurses recently won a class action lawsuit settlement with Ellis Hospital in Troy for several million dollars regarding alleged wage fixing by hospitals in the area that cause them to be underpaid.

For five years, the nurses argued, hospital officials had artificially depressed wages. As a result of the class action wage settlement, more than 3,000 former and current employees will receive about $1,730. The settlement resolves a long-running wage and hour class action lawsuit in which four other hospitals had already agreed to settle in 2009.

Still, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and FLSA lawsuit attorneys, have been trying to get decisions that would make it more clear what standards should be in place regarding wage and hour violations. For example, the Internal Revenue Service has a relatively fluid definition of both independent contractors as well as whether or not an employee can be considered salaried or is entitled to overtime pay as a result of being an hourly worker.

Still, the nurses’ case in New York is important and unique in that it accused several area hospitals of sharing confidential information regarding payments that enabled the healthcare facilities to depress wages. That is more rare in other unpaid wage lawsuits filed by employment attorneys. However, it does affirm the confidentiality that should be provided for compensation notes regardless of the industry.

Workers should note that in many cases, class action lawsuits from employment lawyers often result in speedy settlements due to the potentially high cost of a jury award. That means a relatively quick legal remedy may be available, so it can be important to file a claim early.

People who believe that they have been the victim of wage violations such as unpaid overtime, unpaid wages and other FLSA violations may want to consider their legal options. Getting a free consultation is the first step and one is available at the Wage & Hour, Unpaid Overtime Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Employee advocates can help workers assess their eligibility to file a lawsuit against their current or former employer, but it is important to act quickly to get the legal remedy a claim merits.