Factory Worker Overtime Lawsuit Reaches $8.5M Deal

A factory worker overtime lawsuit in California has reached a settlement amount of $8.5 million, resolving allegations against a major packaging company.

Rock-Tenn Co. (now known as WestRock CP LLC) was hit with a factory worker overtime lawsuit kn a California court, claiming that the packaging giant violate wage and hour practices regarding meal and rest breaks, overtime work, and record-keeping.

The factory worker overtime lawsuit claims that Rock-Tenn had policies that caused employees to consistently miss some or all of their rest and meal break time without receiving payment in compensation. The lawsuit also alleged that employees were made to work off the clock and through breaks. Plaintiffs allege the company failed to record this time worked so it could avoid paying them accurately for their overtime work.

According to the factory worker overtime lawsuit, Rock-Tenn had some of these violations built into its policies and general practices–meaning that many employees would have been affected and harmed, not just the lead plaintiff. Class certification was granted to the factory worker overtime lawsuit in May 2015.

Class Members include those employees who worked at a Rock-Tenn California facility sometime between July 16, 2008 and May 7, 2015. Around 812 Class Members are involved in the factory worker overtime lawsuit, who will be paid an average settlement amount of $6,332 each. The lead plaintiffs will receive almost twice as much for their part in the lawsuit.

The settlement decision was recently deemed “fair, reasonable and adequate” by Judge Berle in California Superior Court, which brings an end to the allegations brought forward in the factory worker overtime lawsuit.

Wage and Hour Regulations

There are a series of both federal and state wage and hour laws put in place to protect workers and ensure they are treated fairly. However, many workers across the country do not know the protections that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) offers, which can lead to employers taking advantage of them–in some cases requiring underpaid overtime work despite the illegality of doing so.

Some workers may find themselves unable to file wage and hour complaints like this unpaid overtime lawsuit because they are not aware of FLSA rules. Others may be afraid that their employers will retaliate or even fire them if they speak up about these kinds of FLSA violations. To protect workers who help to enforce FLSA rules, laws also exist to protect workers from discrimination based on wage and hour complaints.

Filing a Wage and Hour Lawsuit in California

If you have worked for or have worked for an employer that may have failed to follow the Fair Labor Standards Act or the state labor laws of California, such as overtime and break requirements, you may be able to file an unpaid overtime lawsuit of your own.

Join a Free California Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay within the past 3 years in California, you have rights – and you don’t have to take on the company alone.

Get a Free Case Evaluation Now