Tennessee Employment Lawyer Blog

Tennessee residents and residents in states all across the country put in long hours at work to help pay the bills and to provide for their families. Under the law, they are entitled to receive overtime pay if they work more than forty hours a week. Unfortunately, however, many companies find short cuts and ways to avoid paying their employees this extra wage each and every day. With the economy struggling and many people struggling to find work, every cent matters. If you or someone you care about has not been paid the overtime pay you deserve, then you should speak to a Tennessee employment and overtime pay lawyer right away. They will help to make sure you get the compensation you deserve for the hours you work.

In this particular case, a city police lieutenant is filing a lawsuit against the city of Chattanooga claiming that city police officers are not being paid proper overtime. The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court by Lt. Corliss Cooper and is asking that it be considered as a class action complaint. The complaint states that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that the Fair Labor Standards Act applies to both state and local government employees and that the act applied to city employees starting in April 15, 1986.

The lawsuit includes all police department employees who are currently or have been employed by the Chattanooga Police Department in any position as non-exempt FLSA employees who worked overtime on and after July 20, 2010, who did not receive compensation for each hour worked including overtime compensation. The lawsuit claims that the department has continued to fail in paying time and a half for hours worked over eight hours per day. It also claims that the department has also failed to keep proper records of overtime hours worked.

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According to Equal Opportunity Employment Commission more cases have been filed for obesity discrimination, including one particular case involving Lisa Harrison who alleged that she was fired from her Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization because of obesity. Harrison unfortunately died before her lawsuit was filed, however, her estate will be represented in the lawsuit against her employer.

The lawsuit alleges that Harrison was able to perform all the necessary functions of her job, but her employer felt that she was limited in major activities including walking. The lawsuit is claiming that this is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and states that this case is based on “a classic case of disability bias, based on myths and stereotypes”.

Cases based on weight discrimination have seen an increase, however this is the first major action taken by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Most cases have relied on human rights ordinances that are in place in their states. The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has also stepped on their enforcement efforts to focus on employments that are hired or fired based on background checks, credit checks, and criminal records.

Vegas car dealers Shack-Findlay recently found themselves being sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for racial discrimination and harassment. The suit is seeking backpay, reinstatement, implementation of new company policies and an permanent injunction against any further discrimination.

Two African-American men claim that while they were employed by the auto dealer they had to endure racial slurs, ethnic jokes and a hostile workplace because of their race. They also claim they were the victims of retaliation. The men haven't worked for the company for more than three years.

An internal investigation by the company turned up nothing. The EEOC won't say what information it has that led to the bringing of the suit.

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