The chicken processing company Pilgrim's Pride recently awarded $1 million to employees at its Dallas facility through a settlement, according to The Southeast Texas Record.
Texas employment lawyers alleged that the company violated "donning and doffing" issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, meaning that the employer was being targeted for not paying employees for the time it takes to prepare or clean up for a shift.
Pilgrim's Pride states on their website that the company employs approximately 41,000 people in the U.S. and Mexico. The company has facilities in 14 U.S states, including Texas.
Pilgrim's Pride was accused of not paying hourly processing employees time worked from the beginning and ending of their shifts when that time involved putting on, taking off or sanitizing necessary work-related clothing. The Southeast Texas Record reports that the complaint was originally filed on August 6, 2007 in the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas.
A settlement was reached and an agreement was signed on February 1. Specifically the agreement stated that that Pilgrim's Pride wil not violate any provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and that no employee will work longer than 40 hours in a workweek without overtime compensation.
The agreement also states that Pilgrim's Pride will pay approximately $1 million to the Department of Labor to disperse among the eligible Dallas employees that deserve overtime compensation. However, the Southeast Texas Record states that even with the agreement, Pilgrim's Pride does not admit to violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Related Resources:
- Fair Labor Standards Act (LawBrain)
- Employee Rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FindLaw Knowledgebase)
- Texas Employment Lawyer Directory (FindLaw)
ShareThis
