Bad news keeps rolling in for Fuyao Glass America (FGA). Since the beginning of March, 222 current or former employees have requested to join the lawsuit against the company for alleged unpaid overtime wages and rounding policy.
Lead plaintiff Julia Staggs filed the initial complaint in June 2017 alleging the manufacturer refused to pay her, as well as other employees, overtime wages due to the defendant’s automatic meal break deduction policy. According to court documents, the former employees claim all hours worked over 40 were to be compensated at a rate of time-and-a-half.
Class-action status was granted to the plaintiffs on February 7, giving the Moraine, Ohio-based facility 14 days to provide contact information for all its employees over the last three years. The plaintiffs had 20 days to send court-authorized “opt-in” notices to qualifying current and former workers. Plaintiffs were also granted 90 days to receive those forms from those wishing to join the lawsuit.
After the 90-day duration, FGA may be able to decertify the class certification, if its attorneys can prove the class members are not similarly situated.
So far, a total of 240 FGA workers have joined the lawsuit, including Staggs.
Attorneys for the manufacturer have denied the allegations, claiming the company has paid all of its employees appropriately.
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