Steel Technologies: New Unpaid Wages Lawsuit Filed

The experienced unpaid wages attorneys at Coffman Employment Lawyers have recently filed a lawsuit against Steel Technologies LLC on behalf of all of their hourly production/manufacturing employees. Specifically, the new lawsuit alleges that Steel Technologies did not pay these employees all the overtime wages that they were entitled because these employees performed pre-shift work without compensation, and because Steel Technologies did not properly calculate overtime rates.

What Is the New Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit Against Steel Technologies About?

The lawsuit alleges that Steel Technologies 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 would start other pre-shift work such as speaking with the outgoing employee and beginning their regular job duties. However, Steel Technologies allegedly fails to compensate its employees for this pre-shift work, resulting in unpaid overtime.

Also, the lawsuit alleges that Steel Technologies failed to properly calculate overtime rates for its production/manufacturing workers because it failed to include certain types of compensation, such as waived insurance coverage payments, when it calculated overtime rates.

If I Join the Steel Technologies Overtime Case, What Could I Be Eligible to Receive?

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

Can Steel Technologies Retaliate Against ME for Joining the Case?

No. The federal law that the lawsuit is filed under, the Fair Labor Standards Act, prohibits employers from retaliating against employees. If Steel Technologies retaliates, it may be held liable for additional 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.