Octapharma Plasma, INC.: New Unpaid Overtime and Meal Breaks Lawsuit

The skilled and experienced unpaid overtime attorneys at Coffman Employment Lawyers have filed a new unpaid wages lawsuit against Octapharma Plasma, Inc. alleging that the company has not fully compensated its hourly plasma center employees for all overtime wages that they have earned due to its unpaid meal breaks policy.

What Is the Octapharma Lawsuit About?

The lawsuit alleges that Octapharma deducted daily meal breaks from its hourly plasma center employees’ pay each day even if those employees were unable to take full, uninterrupted breaks due to their workload.

Federal law states that if meal breaks are interrupted and/or shortened, employees may not have received a “bona fide meal period” under the law. An employee has only received a bona fide meal period if they were able to take 30 uninterrupted minutes where they were completely relieved of duty. If you do not receive a bona fide meal break, Octapharma cannot deduct 30 minutes from your time worked because that time was compensable work time. If you did not receive meal breaks, if your breaks were interrupted, or if you were able to eat but only on the go or very quickly, Octapharma may not have properly paid you for your full compensable work time.

What Can I Receive from the Octapharma Overtime Case?

If you are eligible and choose to join this case and we can show in the lawsuit that you were not properly paid for all overtime work performed, 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 Octapharma to pay our firm’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

Can Octapharma Retaliate Against Me for Joining?

No. The Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law, prohibits employers from retaliating against employees. If Octapharma 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 attorneys so we can explain your rights and protections.