Kennametal Inc.: New Unpaid Overtime Wages Lawsuit

Our experienced unpaid wages lawyers at Coffman Employment Lawyers have recently filed a lawsuit against Kennametal, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that Kennametal has failed to compensate its hourly production and manufacturing employees for all the overtime hours that they have worked.

What is the Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit Against Kennametal About?

The lawsuit alleges that Kennametal expects its employees to arrive before the scheduled start of their shifts and work after the scheduled end of their shift. Some of the pre-shift and post-shift activities the lawsuit alleges include putting on and taking off certain safety clothing and personal protective equipment (“PPE”) such as lab coats, cut-resistant gloves, rubber gloves, and face shields, and having shift pass down or turnover meetings with the incoming shift. The lawsuit alleges that Kennametal did not pay these employees for this pre- and post-shift work despite requiring employees to perform these tasks on site. The lawsuit alleges that Kennametal’s failure to pay employees for this work time resulted in unpaid overtime.

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that Kennametal rounded its employees’ clock-in and clock-out time such that employees were not paid for these pre- and post-shift activities. The lawsuit alleges that Kennametal rounded employees’ time in its favor and at employees’ expense and that Kennametal’s failure to pay employees for this work time resulted in unpaid overtime.

What Could I Receive from the Kennametal Overtime Case?

If you are eligible to join and we can show in the lawsuit that you were not properly paid for all overtime work performed for one or more reason(s), the law states that you could receive (1) unpaid overtime for up to the last three years of work; and (2) liquidated damages in an amount equal to the unpaid overtime (aka the potential for double [2x or 200%] damages). If we are successful, the law also requires Kennametal to pay our firm’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

Can Kennametal Retaliate Against Me for Joining the Case?

No. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits employers from retaliating against employees. If Kennametal retaliates, it may be held liable for damages, including reinstatement, back pay, and double damages (liquidated damages). If you have experienced retaliation or are concerned about retaliation, please contact our experienced employment lawyers so we can explain your rights and protections.