Wal-Mart truck drivers win $54 million in minimum wage lawsuit

A federal jury awarded hundreds of Wal-Mart truck drivers in California $54 million in damages. The drivers had filed a lawsuit that accused the retail giant of failing to pay them minimum wage as required by state law.

According to the complaint, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. intentionally did not pay around 850 drivers for tasks such as washing and inspecting their trucks. The plaintiffs’ attorneys said drivers were also not paid for layovers even though Wal-Mart had control of their time. Drivers were required to stay with their trucks during layovers, the suit argued.

The truck drivers worked for Wal-Mart from October 2005 to 2015. Instead of being paid hourly wages, the company’s drivers are paid based on mileage and specific tasks.

The jury decided that Wal-Mart owed the drivers backpay for mandatory rest breaks, inspections and layovers between trips. However, the company did not owe backpay for other job duties such as washing and fueling trucks. Civil penalties will be determined by a judge.

A Wal-Mart spokesman said the company disagrees with the verdict and is likely to appeal it. The retailer argued that it paid truck drivers for duties that included other minor tasks. However, it was not possible to separately pay them for every single task, some of which took very little time to perform.

[footer block_id=’778′]

Read more

A California jury awarded a former truck driver $34.7 million after finding that the company falsely accused him of workers’ compensation fraud and wrongfully terminated him, defaming his character.

False Accusations at Work: Lessons from Walmart’s $35 Million Defamation Verdict

Employment defamation can have devastating consequences for workers, leading to lost opportunities, emotional distress and damaged reputations. When false statements are made by an employer, particularly in the context of accusations of…

READ ARTICLE
Age discrimination remains a persistent issue in workplaces, particularly for workers aged 50 and older.

AARP Study Reveals Ongoing Struggles Against Workplace Age Discrimination

Age discrimination remains a persistent issue in workplaces, particularly for workers aged 50 and older. A study by AARP revealed that six in 10 workers over 50 have witnessed or experienced subtle…

READ ARTICLE
The recent $43.25 million settlement by the Walt Disney Company is a stark reminder that even industry giants are not immune to allegations of unlawful pay practices.

Disney Settles Gender Pay Lawsuit for $43 Million, Impacting Thousands of Female Workers

Across industries, workers often face pay disparities that can lead to financial struggles, stress and a sense of injustice. Unfortunately, unequal pay is not uncommon, even at some of the largest and…

READ ARTICLE
The owners of the Radisson Hotel near Oakland Airport are facing a wage theft lawsuit brought by the city of Oakland.

Radisson Hotel in Oakland Sued for Alleged Wage Theft of Over $400K: Key Takeaways for Workers

Fair wages are a fundamental right for California workers. However, unpaid wages continue to affect employees in the hospitality industry and other sectors. Wage theft occurs when employers illegally deny workers the…

READ ARTICLE
SEEN ON
cnnmoney
marin-ij
dailypost
news10