Wage and Hour Lawsuits against Wal-Mart Settled for over $350 Million

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Last week, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced that they have agreed to pay between $352 million and $640 million to settle 63 wage and hour lawsuits filed against the retailer in 42 different states. The lawsuits accused the company of cheating hourly workers by forcing them to work through breaks and not paying them for overtime.

The wage and hour violation settlement may set a new standard for other companies who have been failing to pay employees according to the requirements of federal labor laws.

In recent years, federal court wage and hour class action filings have surpassed employment discrimination class actions, with claims involving issues such as misclassifying employees as salaried or independent contractors, failing to pay for “off-the-clock” work or on-duty meal breaks, denied reimbursements and miscalculation of commissions and bonuses.

Spinal-Cord-Stimulation-Lawsuit
Spinal-Cord-Stimulation-Lawsuit

Class action wage and hour lawsuits against Wal-Mart have generated a significant amount of media attention, as the retailer is the largest private employer in the world. The company has lost high profile lawsuits over wage violations in California in 2005 and Pennsylvania in 2006, which resulted in verdicts of $172 million and $78 million respectively for Walmart employees in each state.

Earlier this month, Wal-mart agreed to pay $54.3 million to settle a wage and hour class action lawsuit brought on behalf of workers in Minnesota, after a judge found that the company had violated wage and hour laws more than 2 million times.

Under the terms of this latest settlement, current and former employees in 42 states will receive at least $352 million, and the payments could reach $640 million, depending on the number of claims submitted by affected workers.

According to the New York Times, the Walmart settlement resolves all but 12 pending wage and hour lawsuits against the company. Some advocacy groups have suggested that Walmart settled the claims to avoid becoming the target of increased wage and hour enforcement that is expected under the Obama administration.


499 Comments


maria
to Shirley… where was your claim from ? I have 2 one in Virginia and one from alabama .

Priscilla
I worked at Walmart for just a few months, but I rec’d short form to fill out. When can I expect my money? Store is in Alabama

sharon
I recieved a check finally from a settlement called nagy vs walmart. I think it is for the state of kentucky where I work and live now, but I dont think I sent a form for this one. I did send one for nevada and I think it is a different class action suit. Oh well Im happy I finally recieved something so keep checking your mail boxes….checks are coming!!!

Graciela
I use to work for walmart in the year 2000.they sent me some form an a and b form.I sign it and sent it out but I haven’t heard nothing yet.I was just wondering what’s going on with that lawsuit? I’m from oceanside,california

shirley
i got my walmart check today hopefully everyone else will get thejrs soon

patty
where’s the money? when is the money?

DeeDee
I now work for Wal-Mart. Yes they do their full share of cheating, but I take my breaks no matter what. I give them 8 honest hours of daily work, but I take what is mine to take. Now Wal-Mart isn’t hiring any full time employees and expect those of us at work to do the work of everyone who doesn’t show up for the their shift. If you are a full time employee, don’t go to part-time, because once the deed is done, you will not be given your full time status back. Now we have to go to lunch by our 5th. hour of our shift, when we used to be able to go to lunch on our 6 hour. Wal-Mart feels we are cheating them by that. Funny when they have problems with their employees, they punish all of us. Wal-Mart now has us cleaning our departments as those we were hired on as janitors when they know we were hired for bakery, deli, groceries, cashiers, and all other departments. They are treating us like slaves. Some store managers talk to us like we have tails between our legs and they let us know that no one is going to listen to us and I have seen that to be true with some of the associates that are having issues with the management staff where I am working. We are told if we talk to any union employees, our jobs will be gone. How can anyone treat a working man or woman that way and expect for them to respect them as well? We are always threatened to be fired or hey just quit if you don’t like what we have to say.

Lori
Hi Denise, I live in mass as well, and have not received our check yet. To be honest Im not holdin my breath on that one. we’ll see if they come through on the checks.

Denise
I live in Mass and I was wondering if anyone has gotten their checks from the mass lawsuit?

Maria
I, been working for wall-mart from 1991 to present, I was a department manager for ten years the management just decide to follow me every day when i was working then they found out that I make one mistake so they demote me and take off some of my wages , and I believe they just done that in purpose to reduce my salary.

margaret
How can they appeal? It was already finished in court and some people have already received checks. Are they to give back the money? This does not make any since at all. All I know is that it is probably all a bunch of crap by Wal-Mart to make every one crazy. Nothing new there.

rosa
I worked for walmart and i didnt alwayz recieve my breaks and lunch on time. I didnt receive no paper on any of da lawsuits against walmart

Garret
Some people think itโ€™s ok for a store to do this to their employees, yes Wal-Mart dose a lot for the community, but thatโ€™s what the bigwigs want you to see. you donโ€™t see is what they do to the venders, they tell them that they wonโ€™t Carrie here product if theyโ€™re not going to give them the lowest price and some venders have to cut cost like cut people from their plant or driver ect. For me it was ok, I was let go for going off property on a store of identity theft of 5 five id five d-credit cards and S.S.I. Cards I was let go by the company, but Selma PD told me that I deed a great thing. I was let go for doing my job, I was a loss prevention officer and this gut was doing this at Wal-Mart for several locations up and down the city. And the worst thing it was right before Christmas and I was not able to get gifts for my two sons I was never a bad employee and never had a write up and was let go after 10 month of working my ass offโ€ฆ I donโ€™t like this company and people should look into this company before they do business โ€ฆโ€ฆ i worked off the clock and never took any breaks, no one ever took over to help out when we were call on our lunch or breaks.

jamie
hi i live in ohio does anyone know who i could call i could really use the money lol

sharon
It figures we have to wait longer…if walmart can screw you out of money, they sure will find a way to do it. They know they are wrong and they should just pay up. But then the big wigs wont get their bonuses. Bunch of greedy @#%^^&%**!!!!!!!

jamie
i live in Ohio and wanted to know if any one has a number i can call to find out whats going on i have moved and would like to give my new address

maria
OK, so I just spoke to a rep, at 1-877-867-6208 option 8… it seems there was a appeal filed, so all things have come to a BIG STOP, I was told that I could call back every few months, we a are looking at a longer wait the appeal my take up to months and years to be heard..sorry I had to give all this bad news. Oh and she didn’t know who appealed it my guess WAL-MART

margaret
now we are hearing August or just call at the end of the year!!! what does this tell you all about how this is being handled. the longer they wait the less they pay out

Jeanne
‘@jo – An increase or decrease in wages from state to state is very legal. Wages are based on each state’s resident cost of living and that does indeed vary by state.

Jeanne
Hello everyone, I just spoke to a representative at the lawfirm handling this case. I updated my address information with them as I have moved since sending in my paperwork to join the class. I did ask if there were any updates or any information as to when check distribution would take place and he told me that with the number of class members in this lawsuit they are still processing claims and it will be a few months yet. They ARE working on it as fast as they can and ask that we all please be patient. He also said that they are recommending that class members call towards the end of this year as at that time they will have a better idea of an ETA. If you need to contact them to update information, such as change of address, etc you can call them at: 1-877-867-6208 and press option 8 to speak with a customer service representative or check their website for updates http://www.walmartwageswa.com

Virginia
where is the money???I live in Alabama has anyone heard when the money will come for people who live in alabama????

doris
I sent an email to them i live in mass. They sent me an email bach and said they are still working on it because of the people who did not send paper work they have to process them now so it is taking time to do . Now they are talking about the end of august and they said that is just an estimate it could be before or after that. Will walmart ever change no. It just a slave shop. Less people working you have to work even harder and not get paid for it. They time you on everything you do and if you dont do it they tell you they will hire someone who will. They do not understand that not everyone can work the same pace as the other but do not care. You cannot work 1 second over 40 hours or you get coached so you end up under 40 hours and you better have your work done in that time.

Susan
I worked for WalMart in Massachusetts-does anyone know how to find out or who to contact about checks

MANDY
My mom recieved a check about a month ago. And her friend did too. I also no one other person that recieved one too. I on the other hand have not. My fiance hasnt either. My mom and her friend worked at the one in mcalester Ok. I worked at one in oklahoma city. So they are actually handing them out it is just a matter on what order they are going in. So I guess there is a little hope.

sharon
Has anyone recieved any checks yet?? I have to wonder if this is ever going to actually happen. What happenned to the end of May the checks were going out? I’m still waiting!!! Walmart is so full of it. they don’t really care about their employees any more. They used to though. Now I think they are just greedy. They could pay us more. I have been working for them for almost nine years and still can’t afford to buy my own groceries after paying all my bills. My family takes care of me so i don’t have to starve. Thanks walmart!!! I wish Sam was still alive.

jo
do you know that if you move from state to state wal-mart will reduce your wage or encrease it is this legal

billie
i have been at walmart for 15 yrs. and i still have to work off the clock to get things done. has anyone got any money yet.

Susan
haven’t seen any money here in Wisconsin would be nice would like to get a different job somewhere 14 yrs is too long at Walmart

Sandra
I worked for Wal-Mart in Illinios from 2003 to 2004. Can you tell me how to get in contact with whoever I need to so I can get my check. I have move a couple of times.

steve
Hey!, I also worked at Walmart and experienced the same thing! I’ve been without a permanent address for the past 5 years. You think I’m too late to file and/or receive anything? I worked there from 04/2003 to 01/2005.

barbara
1 am on a d day, because someone did not clean a slicer on a designated time.managers designate associates in the deli spacifick areas to work in on are shift. i was on hotcase that shift, another on fryers, another on slicers. because someone in the slicer area did not clean a slicer on a spacific time, we all got written up. HOW ARE WE SUSSPOSED TO KNOW THAT IF WE ARE DESIGNATED TO DIFFERENT SATATIONS IN THE DELI. WE ALL ARE WORKING ON CUSTOMERS AT THE TIME AND CANT FOCUS ON WHAT OTHER AREAS ARE DOING. THIS IS TOTALY VERY UN FAIR. MY JOB IS A VERY THIN LINE. WE ARE ALL TREATED UNFAIR. WE ALL NEED TO GO TO THE CORPRAT OFFICE AND PROTEST, JUST BECAUSE THEIR LODED WITH MONEY , DOESENT MATTER (ITS THE SMALL WHEELS THAT MAKE THE BIG WHEELS GO AROUND) BUT WITHOUT US THEY CANT MAKE IT. WE NEED TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT, NOT SLAVERY. THANKS TO MARTIN LUTHER KING. WALL MART NEEDS TO BE UPDATED, THEIR IS NO MORE SLAVERY. I HOPE THE HIGH JUDGES OF THE HIGEST COURTS SEE THIS COMENT, BECAUSE THIR ARE A LOT OF GOOD AND HONEST PEOPLE OUT THEIR THAT NEED JOBS, GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Teresa
I JUST TRANSFERED BACK TO THE FIRST WALMART I STARTED AT, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET ME TO INTERVIEW FOR THE JOB I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR 3 YEARS, WELL BEING AN EX-UNION WORKER FOR 27 YEARS I WAS NOT INTIMIDATED TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THE HOME OFFICE AND INFORMRD THEM OF THIS SO CALLED INTERVIEW, I TOLD THEM I KNEW THEY WERE TRYING TO GET RID OF ME, BECAUSE I HAVE A DISABILITY, WELL THE NEXT DAY PERSONEL CALLED ME TO COME IN AND SIGN MY JOB OFFER AND GET A SCHULED, I HAVE A FUNNY FEELING THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY TYO FIND A WAY TO GET RID OF ME. I ACCEPT THEIR CHALLENGE, BRING IT ON, I WON’T QUIT TIL I GET MY WAY, THE WAY OF THE LAW, AND THE STORE’S SO CALLED POLICY, BRING IT ON WALMART I’M WAITING FOR YOU.

Alissa
i was at a wisconsin walmart for 4 yrs and the “open door” policy is BS!!i went to a vip and it went right back to my manager who brought me into her office and confronted me about the situation….very intimidating!!so anyways…..what is going on with the lawsuit for wisconsin?

Gabino
I work for walmart for 1 1/2 years and I dont get all my breaks. Walmart sucks

angela
Angela i as well work for walmart and got beat out of my time and money working pass my lunch,working over time on my breaks .i also put in for the settlement. as well were is the money

Annette
i worked at walmart 2001-2006 and i live in kentucky.I was sent the paperwork and i filled them out and sent them back. We were in the process of moving and i lost contact info. I assume since i got paperwork ky. is named in suit and part of settlement. Does anybody know contact info for kentucky so i can tell change of address?

doris
I worked for walmart for seven years,and when hurraine Katrina hit in 2005 , the managers were not asking us to stay over they were forcing us to stay,putting our jobs on the line, Everyday we had to stay over to fill the shelves and zone the area. we were stockers but a lot of times we had to unload trucks, sometimes it passed our break time hour.

Brandon
This is total CRAP!!!!!!! How long ago was the lawsuit settled (A long TIme ago) and when is the money going to get here? If Wal-Mart does not want another settlement they better step it up or they will be suied again for fraudulent papers going out in the mail with peoples personal infomation on it etc.

Jennifer
I started working for walmart in 2007 and at first I hated it. I was put in a dept that I wasn’t trained for properly. Only days after being in infants my dept mng left 4+ over stuffed buggies daily for me to put away and then I got in trouble because I only worked a 6 hour shift and I was required to be in jewelry to do breaks and called up from to run register. Later I began to love walmart, I learned how to do things that most mangers don’t know how to do. I was doing projects and being praised for getting the job done. I was promised full time and told I could work full time hours and when things looked better that I would be given a full time position, this never happened. In Nov of 2009 I became really sick and no one could figure out what was wrong with me. The earlies appointment I could get in was the end of january 2010 to get an endoscopy to see what was wrong. By then I was feeling a bit better and cancled my appointment, thinking maybe it was just a bug. Not long after that I became so sick in constant pain, bleeding anywhere I could. It was horrible. I was then sent to multiple drs and because of walmarts policy of having to miss 4 days in a row for it to count on the fmla I was denied and then I was seeing so many different drs that they said they felt like by law they couldn’t fill out a fmla because they’d only seen me once, even though they were refuring me to other drs. The only days I missed were days I was sick and I even took drs notes. I was told by an assistant mng as well as the store mng that I could pay a drs visit and get a drs slip, so I was told that that didn’t count. I was scheduled for surgery april 5th and only two weeks before I was given a d day. The day before my surgery I was scheduled to close when I had to have surgery at 5 the next morning. Of course I called in, who wouldn’t? Days after my surgery I had to go in and turn in my fmla, still having stiches and having a hard time walking and I had managers looking at me as if I needed to come back. Some even commented about how other people were back after a few days and that it’s not that big of a deal. After already having a dday I knew if I came back I would be fired. I talked to the store manager and even went abover her head, of course, with her permission.. Nothing helped. Before my fmla was up I called in and quit. There was no point in coming back, I would have just been terminated. I loved working at walmart, I don’t have a lawsuit against them, but I do believe they do their works poorly. Store managers who sit and listen to people complain all day make 75K+ a year and people who do all the work who make the store look decent and work for the customers make barely 10k a year. Just doesn’t seem right.

margaret
I also filled out the paper work, and still no check. Beginning to think this was some kind of gimmick by Wal Mart to see who would be sending in the paper work. Lots of people who worked with me said they were too afraid to send in the paper work, figured they would be fired for doing so.

Melba
I’m wondering when will we get a check.. Filled out the paper work and no one has heard whn we’ll get a check…

jesse
I worked for walmart as a cart pusher for almost 2 years. I was promised a transfer to electronics due to me being a certified computer tech. Never happened. That didnt bother to much, the thing that bothers me the most is i was recently fired last week for not wearing a blue shirt ( i was out of dress code they said ) which indeed was true, the only problem with that is, i was on break drinking my coffee when my store manager pulled me into his office to tell me i was fired for dress code violation, i told him i was on my break and had a blue shirt for when i get off my break. he said that it didnt matter…i was still terminated.

crystal
I am an overnight associate who was a support mgr for many years at a store in Vacaville,CA. We have been getting cheated out of our overnight differental since it went to a dollar .We are still only getting paid 50 cents when every other store in our district has a $1.00. I don’t understand how WALMART get’s away with this. If anybody can explain this please email me.

Kizaninja
For all of you that “Love” working at wal-mart remember you are making MINIMUM WAGE. Nothing is great when you make less than $20/hr. You are immediately eligible for welfare and state assistance when you work there with no other source of income. If walmart went union tomorrow they would have to pay up to 15t imes what they are paying you now. think about it. A cart pusher @ wal-mart starts around $9/hr. A checker always under $15. No matter to what position you climb (unless you are the store or co Manager) you will never make over $40,000/yr and will work well over 40/hrs a week. A Journeyman Plumber in Nevada for the local union 525 gets around $75.00/hr total package. DID YOU READ THAT. He gets $45/hr straight pay on his paycheck and his benefits WHICH ARE THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY are already paid for on top of his compensation. So when you work at wal-mart and don’t pay any of your own bills (live with parents or state assistance) and don’t have to work to live, I am sure it is great.

Shauna
To those of you interested in creating a union at Wal-mart, you need someone on the inside to get it started. Employees at every single walmart aross the country and world are going to have to sign a petition within 30 days. If employees from each walmrt store do this, they will be forced to unionize. What happens if they dont? Are they going to fire thousands of employees at once, or shut down their stores? If they lose there employees, nobody else is going to want to work for them. This is what needs to be done. Walmart is crooked.

Holly
I was part of this law suite too please let me know how i go about getting my hands on some cash from a company that don’t care about their employes. When it is supose to be a family owned company

Theresa
I work for walmart for 13 !/2 years as a Dept manger and when stop being the dept manger they took way the raise I got 11 years before when I became the dept manger and know for a fact that men who work less years for would get 1.00 raise when I would only get 25cent and if you were a casher you would get even less

maria
I received this e-mail this morning..this person that I have been blessed with to work with me is awesome..sorry I didn’t ask if I could post her name Thank you for your email. We are working on finalizing the payment amounts for class members. We are getting very close and hope to be ready to send out payment within the next month. We appreciate everyoneโ€™s patience with this tedious process. If you have to update your address information, please contact the claims administrator at 877.867.6208.

Ra chael
I must say that the walmart i worked for in Lexington South Catolina, was a great except one problem. our store did play when it came to recieving your breaks and lunches. i’m not sure about the pay rate but i was paid pretty well. My only issue was that there were not any black Merchandise supervisors, except one. and i believe she got that position because she aleady was in that department and knew it well. bu beside that one there were no others. i know that many blacks applied and may have been qualified but they were always looked over. That store may have a racial issue. still to this day there is not one black person as a merchandise supervisor on Zone supervisor

shannon
oh i forgot there was a time we where told if we tried to get a union going that we would be termenated good family company huh like they try to portray to the public

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