Tennessee Wage & Hour Legal News Articles & Interviews

Nashville, TN News anchor Demetria Kalodimos, who had repeatedly been named the Best Local Reporter and Best Local TV News Personality by the readers of the Nashville Scene, was abruptly fired by WSMV, Channel 4 on December 4, 2017. On November 27, 2018, she filed an employment lawsuit in the Middle District of Tennessee, alleging violations of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Tennessee Human Rights Act and Disability Act and Tennessee common law. Allegations concerning violations of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 are expected to follow.

Hermitage, TN On October 19, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that Tennessee contractor, Vasquez Drywall, had agreed to pay $103,300 in back wages to workers misclassified as independent contractors and a $2,424 civil penalty. Employment misclassification is rampant in the construction industry in Tennessee and throughout the country. The practice deprives employees of overtime pay, workers compensation insurance and basic workplace safety protections. Undocumented construction workers are particularly at risk because they are unlikely to bring lawsuits or seek other enforcement action to preserve their rights.

Nashville, TN: Although the Tennessee economy is doing well with record low unemployment rates, employers in the hospitality industry are having a difficult time attracting workers due to the state’s minimum wage, which is also a common Tennessee labor law issue.

Nashville, TN: The Ninth Circuit gave the green light last month for bartenders and servers to sue restaurants--including a Tennessee based chain-- for allegedly underpaying them regarding tipping, a violation of the federal and Tennessee labor law. The cases were consolidated on appeal as Marsh v. J. Alexander’s and remanded for further proceedings.

Nashville, TN: Over the past several years Tennessee has experienced a number of Tennessee labor lawsuits by employees demanding compensation for “donning and doffing” (putting on and taking off) clothing such as uniforms and protective gear before and after their shift.

Memphis, TN: Misclassifying store managers and assistant managers as exempt to avoid paying overtime is pervasive, particularly in the retail industry. Increasingly, however, employees such as managers at Cash America Pawn are understanding their rights and employers should understand that the potential consequences can be costly.

Memphis,TN: “We are seeing an increase in overtime complaints and in turn wage and hour lawsuits, such as the recent Cash America Pawnshop overtime lawsuit,” says employment attorney Alan Crone. Fortunately, the government and attorneys are cracking down on employers who deny employers their rights and they are helping workers to get what they are owed.

Memphis, TN: A former Store Manager recently filed an employment complaint against First Cash and Cash America (also known as Cash America Pawn) for unpaid overtime compensation. “We estimate that 1,000 store managers nationwide have been misclassified and eligible for overtime,” says attorney Alan Crone, “and upwards of 3,000 employees may have an overtime claim against Cash America Pawn for violating the Fair Standards Labor Act.”