BigClassActions.com
Advertisement

Rite Aid Allegedly Wrong in its Treatment of Employees

- by

Pittsburgh, PACount Rite Aid among the companies that face a lawsuit alleging they did not properly pay employees for overtime hours. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Rite Aid assistant managers, who say they were misclassified as exempt from overtime pay. The Rite Aid overtime lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid overtime and liquidated damages.

People who worked at Rite Aid allege that they were given the title of assistant manager, but all that led to was increased hours at work and inadequate pay while still doing the duties associated with a regular cashier or stock person—basically, non-managerial duties.

Sometimes, the big promotion just is not what you thought it would be. It used to be that promotions were a step on the corporate chain—that once you were moved up to assistant manager, you were on your way. Sure, you did not have the authority of a manager, but you were getting there. You had more authority than you used to, got more respect and no longer had to perform the tasks that you used to. It used to be that a promotion was a reward for doing good work—and it was a sign that the company had faith in your abilities.

Now, however, a promotion may be no more than a company's way of saving money. That is what is implied by lawsuits filed by people who allege they were misclassified as exempt from overtime pay. They say that they were given the job title of assistant manager, but received none of the authority that goes with the position. Meanwhile, they still performed the duties of a regular, hourly employee but were expected to work overtime without overtime pay. Essentially, they say they were given a promotion in name only.

The thing is that employees count on their pay to help them get by—and they count on overtime hours to supplement their income. Jim, a former Rite Aid employee, writes that lack of overtime pay has gone on for years. "I was 'encouraged' to put more hours in to make the store the best. Back then I was young and had a growing family and needed the job," Jim writes.

Misclassifying people as exempt from overtime impacts at least 2 groups of people. First, and most obviously, those who are misclassified are expected to work long hours without being properly paid for their time. They lose out on their pay and they also lose out because they do not get adequate time off work. They work twice as hard without being properly compensated for doing so.

However, misclassification affects another group of people, too—the hourly people. After all, they miss out on overtime hours, money that could help them out a lot. Think about it: if an employer has 2 people he can ask to work overtime, 1 who he has to pay time and a half to and 1 that he does not have to pay extra to, who is he most likely to ask to work those extra hours? So, the misclassified employee loses out on pay and the hourly employee misses out on extra hours and extra money. In the end, both groups of employees suffer, while the company gets to save all that money.

The Rite Aid lawsuit alleges that assistant managers were regularly forced work more than 40 hours per week without receiving overtime pay. Plaintiffs further allege that they were misclassified as exempt from overtime pay because most of their duties were non-managerial and they did not have authority or discretion in their job.

Overtime exemption is not solely based on a person's job title—if it were, then everyone could be classified as an assistant manager so that a company would not have to pay overtime. Instead, overtime exemption takes into account the duties that a person performs in his or her role at a company. If that person has a management title but performs non-managerial duties the majority of time at work, then he may still be eligible for overtime pay.

If this sounds like something you are dealing with, it just may be worth your while to look into it.

Rite Aid Legal Help

If you have suffered losses in this case, please send your complaint to a lawyer who will review your possible [Rite Aid Lawsuit] at no cost or obligation.

Reader Comments

Posted by

on
I was a shift supervisor for rite aid did 3 store remodels than almost two years ago was hurt on the job and my manager lied about it sayin he was never informed I was forced by rite aid to resign my position and they also corporate lied and said I didn't inform them about my accident , my manager and district manager didn't like me held me back in my learning to become a assistant manager , they show favoritism all the time , my manager was told to work nights and doesn't , they never really show appreciation unless your on their favorite list , I was a hard worker , showed up everyday , raises where a joke , cashiers treated badly except the favorites, I was working two stores, I feel I am due a huge settlement from them and am entitled to it

Posted by

on
where is the money /

Posted by

on
I was a pharmacist for Rite Aid. I worked was 48 hours/week. I traveled up to six hours per day. I was promised gas milage and overnight motel expenses if could not stay with relatives. This promise was kept once. This one time money was very late in reaching me.
My pay was direct deposit but stub (money deducted for social security, income taxes, etc,) was kept at a store in West Reading. Rite Aid could not mail my stub. I had to get it myself and travel another 3 hours. Sometimes the number of hours worked was correct and sometimes it wasn't.The scheduler changed the place and times I was supposed to work. She did this by FAX. Often my paycheck was shorted.
I could go on and on. Was this inefficiency or purpose?
When I had eye surgery I had to use my vacation time. According to Cheryl McElveen Rite Aid does not have sick time. After surgery I had to work without glasses even after making it loud and clear that I could not see to drive. I had someone drive me to work. In the Pharmacy there was no one who could check that the Rx's were correct. In this area the Pharmacy Technicians were very poorly educated. In one pharmacy there was a Technician who failed a draft physical for neurological reasons. I hope this will helps someone. PBS

Posted by

on
Rite aid had something they called work parties. Assitant and Manager were ask to work these parties,in doing so we're salries empolyee.Sometimes this took 3to5day cleaning a store. Never got paid never got moneies for gas only pizza.Rite Aid really don't treat there people right it's a company that can only go downhill.

Add Your Comment on This Story

Please read our comment guidelines before posting.


Note: Your name will be published with your comment.


Your email will only be used if a response is needed.

Request Legal Help