Overtime Pay Investigation Secures $411K for “Real Housewives” Staff

The production company responsible for producing the reality show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” was hit with an overtime pay investigation by the New York Attorney General.

As a result of the overtime pay investigation, the show’s production company, True Entertainment LLC, has agreed to pay $411,000 in restitution fees towards hundreds of employees that were allegedly denied proper overtime wages during their work on the popular reality show.

The restitution deal will apply to production assistants, associate producers, and other employees with similar tasks who worked for the company after January 1, 2009.

The employees involved in the overtime pay investigation had similar duties in their respective positions, including crowd control, travel arrangements, obtaining photo release forms, and logging footage, according the office of the New York Attorney General.

Overtime Pay Investigation Reveals Unpaid Overtime Wages

The office found that these employees were paid either weekly or daily but without proper overtime. Moreover, it found that True Entertainment failed to keep accurate records of the hours its employees worked.

Ultimately, the attorney general’s office determined that these employees were not exempt from overtime pay requirements.

As part of the deal, True Entertainment further agreed to examine the duties of its producers to ascertain whether or not they too were qualified for overtime pay that they did not receive.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman commented on the settlement, emphasizing his office’s commitment to enforcing overtime laws and providing fair and legal compensation for employees.

“Production workers in the entertainment industry routinely work more than 40 hours per week, and I will do everything in my power to defend their right to overtime pay,” said Schneiderman.

To that end, True Entertainment is likely not the only production company that will be hit with such an overtime pay investigation. Indeed, according to Schneiderman, other production companies’ labor practices will also be thoroughly examined to ensure employees are receiving fair overtime compensation for their work.

Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuits

Some workers may find themselves unable to alert authorities about wage and hour violations such as unpaid overtime wages, or unable to file an overtime lawsuit, simply because they are unaware of the authorities and rules protecting them and their rights as an employee.

Some may even be afraid that pursuing the matter could get them fired. But there are labor laws put in place to protect workers from discrimination based on things like wage and hour complaints.

If you have worked for an employer like True Entertainment LLC that may have failed to pay adequate overtime wages or otherwise violated labor laws, you may be able to either join a wage and hour class action lawsuit or file a suit of your own.

Join a Free Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

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

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