Olympic Steel: Unpaid Wages Lawsuit

The experienced unpaid wages attorneys at Coffman Employment Lawyers have recently filed a lawsuit against Olympic Steel on behalf of all of Olympic Steel’s hourly production/manufacturing employees. The lawsuit alleges that Olympic Steel has failed to compensate these employees for all the overtime hours that they have worked.

What is the Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit Against Olympic Steel About?

The lawsuit alleges that Olympic Steel expects its employees to arrive before the scheduled start of their shifts and engage in pre-shift activities, including putting on certain safety clothing and personal protective equipment (“PPE”) such as hard hats, eye protection, arm protection, and work boots. After putting on this equipment, the lawsuit alleges that these employees will begin their other job duties still before the scheduled start of their shift.

However, the lawsuit alleges that Olympic Steel failed to pay these employees for this pre-shift work, resulting in unpaid overtime.

What Could I Receive From the Olympic Steel Overtime Case If I a Am Eligible and Choose to Join It?

If 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 the lawsuit is successful, the law also requires Olympic Steel to pay our firm’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

Can Olympic Steel Retaliate Against ME for Joining the Case?

No. The Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits employers from retaliating against employees. It is against the law for employers to “discharge or in any other manner discriminate” against an employee because the employee joins a wage and hour case or otherwise testifies in it. If Olympic Steel retaliates, it may be held liable for remedies, including reinstatement, back pay, and double damages (liquidated damages). More information regarding protection from retaliation is available from the U.S. Department of Labor here. If you have experienced retaliation or are concerned about retaliation, please contact our experienced employment lawyers so we can explain your rights and protections.