Wage & Hour

  • November 21, 2025

    NC Farmworker Wage Trial Canceled Amid Proposed Deal

    A North Carolina federal judge has called off a December jury trial over claims that Lee and Sons Farms underpaid migrant H-2A workers and forced them to buy inadequate meals, with the parties telling the court there is a proposed settlement.

  • November 21, 2025

    Calif. Forecast: Tribe To Make Sovereignty Args In Labor Suit

    In the next two weeks, attorneys should keep an eye on Ninth Circuit oral arguments regarding whether a Native American tribe's sovereignty shields it from a labor arbitration award. Here's a look at that case and other labor and employment matters coming up in California.

  • November 21, 2025

    Atty Had 6 AI Tools Check Each Other, Yet Fakes Still Cited

    A California federal judge has sanctioned a solo practitioner representing the plaintiffs in a proposed wage and hour class action against clothing brand Vuori Inc. after he admitted to using about a half-dozen artificial intelligence tools to prepare a motion.

  • November 21, 2025

    Longtime DOJ Atty Joins Kalijarvi Chuzi In Washington

    An attorney who spent about 17 years with the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, and was part of a team that challenged a North Carolina law banning transgender people from using bathrooms that aligned with their gender identity, has joined Kalijarvi Chuzi Newman & Fitch PC.

  • November 21, 2025

    IRS Issues Guidelines For Claiming Tip Tax Relief In 2025

    The Internal Revenue Service published guidance Friday for taxpayers looking to claim the new tax deductions for tips and overtime in 2025, as relevant tax forms haven't yet been updated to more easily account for them.

  • November 21, 2025

    Red Cross Workers' $3.5M Wage Deal Halted Again

    A $3.5 million deal to end a proposed wage and hour class action against the American Red Cross can't move forward because the worker who lodged the suit did not fix certain issues a California federal judge pointed out, the judge ruled.

  • November 20, 2025

    States Back Hockey Players In Antitrust Fight Over Contracts

    More than a dozen states have thrown their support behind current and former players in an antitrust lawsuit against the National Hockey League and its pipeline junior organizations, arguing a lower court's dismissal ignores how exclusive recruiting territories reduce competition for labor.

  • November 20, 2025

    Deal To End Twitter Ex-Workers' $500M Severance Suit Falters

    A tentative deal to end a proposed class action against X Corp. and Elon Musk alleging Twitter Inc. ex-workers are owed some $500 million in severance has hit a stumbling block, with attorneys representing individual ex-employees disputing how to proceed in federal court in dueling briefs.

  • November 20, 2025

    State AGs Again Turn To Workers' Rights Units In Trump Era

    The Washington attorney general's new worker rights unit to combat wage theft amid what the official said was a lack of enforcement by President Donald Trump's administration is the latest such effort by Democratic attorneys general and one that attorneys say employers should take seriously.

  • November 20, 2025

    Legal Marketing Co. Misclassified Call Center Reps, Suit Says

    A legal marketing and client support company misclassified call center representatives as independent contractors despite exercising control over their working conditions in a manner typical of employers, a worker claimed in a proposed collective action filed in New Jersey federal court Thursday.

  • November 20, 2025

    Judge OKs Litigation Costs In Coal Miners' $15.2M Wage Suit

    Coal miners who snagged a $15.2 million deal to end their unpaid wage suit against multiple mining companies supported their request for about $309,000 for litigation costs, a Kentucky federal judge said Thursday, signing off on the amount.

  • November 20, 2025

    FedEx Says Drivers' Argument In OT Suit Is Late

    Drivers who worked for FedEx through intermediary entities were late in arguing that they spent enough time on light trucks to make them overtime-eligible, the company argued, pushing a Massachusetts federal court to toss their unpaid overtime suit.

  • November 20, 2025

    Dell Says Atty's Pregnancy Bias Suit Belongs In Arbitration

    A former in-house attorney for Dell can't pursue a lawsuit alleging that the company fired her because she chose to work remotely to accommodate her high-risk pregnancy, the technology company told a Massachusetts federal judge, arguing she is bound by an arbitration agreement.

  • November 20, 2025

    NJ Panel Expands Scope Of Ex-Reed Smith Atty's Bias Claims

    A New Jersey appellate panel on Thursday ruled that a former Reed Smith LLP attorney is entitled to pursue more damages and obtain expanded wage data in her gender discrimination suit against the firm, saying a trial court incorrectly applied certain statutes when it limited the damages and data she could seek.

  • November 19, 2025

    Travel Agents' Silence Requires Axing OT Suit, Judge Says

    Two travel agents abandoned their Fair Labor Standards Act suit claiming unpaid overtime against a New York travel agency and others and failed to respond to the court's calls, a federal magistrate judge said, recommending tossing their suit for good.

  • November 19, 2025

    Paramount Snags Win Over Ex-CBS Manager Bonus Case

    A former CBS News station manager failed to show that her bonus was promised as part of her wages, a Maryland federal judge said Wednesday, agreeing with Paramount that the bonuses were discretionary.

  • November 19, 2025

    Amazon Drivers Push For Class Cert. In Mass. Law Tip Suit

    Amazon delivery drivers who claim the e-commerce giant skimmed from their tips are asking a Seattle federal judge to revive claims under Massachusetts state law, arguing that drivers from that state may be eligible for "significant relief" beyond what they received through a 2021 settlement between Amazon and the Federal Trade Commission.

  • November 19, 2025

    Cintas Corp. Owes Wash. Workers OT And Breaks, Suit Says

    Cintas Corp., which provides supplies and services to businesses, routinely shortchanged Washington-based employees on rest and meal breaks, sick leave, overtime pay and other wages, according a proposed class action the employer took to federal court in the Evergreen State on Tuesday.

  • November 19, 2025

    Georgia Atty Told To Arbitrate Wage Claims Against Ex-Firm

    An Atlanta attorney was ordered to arbitrate her retaliation and harassment claims against her former firm after a Georgia federal judge determined that the employment agreement between the two sides requires any disputes to be settled in that way.

  • November 19, 2025

    9th Circ. Renews Exotic Dancer's Indirect Retaliation Claim

    The Ninth Circuit revived an exotic dancer's suit claiming a manager canceled their performance after the dancer sued another club for wage violations, ruling their employer didn't need to be directly responsible for the retaliation for the case to be viable.

  • November 19, 2025

    Paxton Deputies Seek To Block Subpoenas In Harassment Suit

    Two high-ranking attorneys in the Texas Office of the Attorney General this week blasted deposition subpoenas they got from a pair of former OAG lawyers facing a sexual harassment suit as the "epitome" of abusive discovery.

  • November 19, 2025

    Pharmacy Co., Ex-Worker Resolve Overtime Suit

    A New Jersey company that provides pharmacy services to long-term care facilities and a former hourly employee have reached a settlement in principle to end a proposed collective action alleging it failed to include shift differentials or bonuses in overtime wage calculations.

  • November 19, 2025

    COVID-19 Testing Co. Settles Wage Suit With Testers, Drivers

    A COVID-19 mobile testing company told a New York federal court that it has reached a settlement with a group of testers and drivers who claimed they were not paid full wages and overtime.

  • November 18, 2025

    Cognizant Accused Of Retaliation Over Ex-Worker's Claims

    A former employee of Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp. claimed in Colorado state court Monday that the company retaliated against him for reporting a "make good" arrangement the company had with a client that he described as potentially illegal.

  • November 18, 2025

    Trade Groups Want Justices To Mull Collective Standard

    Two trade associations urged the U.S. Supreme Court to put an end to a lack of guidance courts have to deal with when it comes to certifying collectives, backing Eli Lilly & Co. in its efforts to have the justices take up an age discrimination case.

Expert Analysis

  • Challenging A Class Representative's Adequacy And Typicality

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    Recent cases highlight that a named plaintiff cannot certify a putative class action unless they can meet all the applicable requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, so defendants should consider challenging a plaintiff's ability to meet typicality and adequacy requirements early and often, say attorneys at Womble Bond.

  • What Employers Can Learn From Axed Mo. Sick Leave Law

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    Missouri's recent passage and brisk repeal of Proposition A, which would have created a paid sick time benefit for employees, serves as a case study for employers, highlighting the steps they can take to adapt as paid sick leave laws are increasingly debated across the country, say attorneys at Foley & Lardner.

  • Navigating Court Concerns About QR Codes In FLSA Notices

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    As plaintiffs attorneys increasingly seek to include QR codes as a method of notice in Fair Labor Standards Act collective actions, counsel should be prepared to address judicial concerns about their use, including their potential to be duplicative and circumvent court-approved language, say attorneys at Shook Hardy.

  • FMLA Expansion Sees State Progress Despite Federal Barriers

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    Recent legislative efforts to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act reflect workers' growing demand for work-life balance, but as federal proposals continue to face significant hurdles, states have stepped in, creating a labyrinth of leave laws and compliance headaches for multistate employers, say attorneys at FordHarrison.

  • New Law May Reshape Fla. Employer Noncompete Strategy

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    With Florida's CHOICE Act taking effect this week, employers should consider the pros and cons of drafting new restrictive covenant agreements with longer noncompete or garden leave periods and enhanced enforcement mechanisms, say attorneys at Vedder Price.

  • How Ending OFCCP Will Affect Affirmative Action Obligations

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    As President Donald Trump's administration plans to eliminate the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which enforces federal contractor antidiscrimination compliance and affirmative action program obligations, contractors should consider the best compliance approaches available to them, especially given the False Claims Act implications, say attorneys at Ogletree.

  • FLSA Interpretation Patterns Emerge 1 Year After Loper Bright

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    One year after the U.S. Supreme Court's monumental decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, four distinct avenues of judicial decision-making have taken shape among lower courts that are responding to their newfound freedom in interpreting the Fair Labor Standards Act through U.S. Department of Labor regulations, say attorneys at Kutak Rock.

  • Handbook Hot Topics: Shifting Worker Accommodation Rules

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    Since President Donald Trump took office, many changes have directly affected how employers must address accommodation requests, particularly those concerning pregnancy-related medical conditions and religious beliefs, underscoring the importance of regularly reviewing and updating accommodation policies and procedures, say attorneys at Kutak Rock.

  • What Calif. Appeals Split Means For Litigating PAGA Claims

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    After two recent California state appeals court rulings diverged on whether a former employee with untimely individual claims under the Private Attorneys General Act can maintain a representative action, practitioners' strategic agility will be key to managing risk and achieving favorable outcomes in PAGA litigation, say attorneys at Buchalter.

  • When Rule 12 Motions Against Class Allegations Succeed

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    Companies facing class actions often attempt early motions to strike class allegations, and while some district courts have been reluctant to decide certification issues at the pleading stage, several recent decisions have shown that Rule 12 motions to dismiss or strike class allegations can be effective, say attorneys at Womble Bond.

  • 5 Insurance Claims That Could Emerge After NCAA Settlement

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    Following the recent NCAA class action settlement that will allow revenue sharing with college athletes, there may be potential management liability for universities, their executive leadership and boards that could expose insurers to tax, regulatory, breach of contract and other claims, says Sarah Abrams at Baleen Specialty.

  • 8th Circ. Ruling Highlights Complicated Remote Work Analysis

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    The Eighth Circuit’s recent opinion in Kuklenski v. Medtronic USA demonstrates that the applicability of employment laws to remote workers is often a fact-driven analysis, highlighting several parameters to consider when evaluating what state and local laws may apply to employees who work remotely, say attorneys at Vedder Price.

  • Philly Law Initiates New Era Of Worker Protections

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    A new worker protection law in Philadelphia includes, among other measures, a private right of action and recordkeeping requirements that may amount to a lower evidentiary standard, introducing a new level of accountability and additional noncompliance risks for employers, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.