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Wage Issues for PAs in the Movie Industry Run Rampant

In the last couple of years there has been an explosion in filming throughout New York City almost daily. Crew members like production assistants can be seen running around, helping shut down traffic or detour pedestrians. They weave through the city streets exasperated on coffee runs or scramble around with walkie talkies in hand. As staples to the industry, these assistants have always worked long arduous hours for next to nothing. For decades it had been custom for production assistants ...

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Lawsuit Filed after Domino’s is Accused of Underpaying its Workers

On Tuesday, the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Domino’s Pizza, the world’s second largest pizzeria chain, claiming the company failed to pay its employees in accordance with the law. The lawsuit alleges that pizza makers and pizza delivery drivers were underpaid in several New York franchise stores. With well over 12,000 store locations around the world, franchised stores make up about 97% of all locations. Even though the majority of these locations are franchises, it ...

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FLSA Lawsuit Filed Against Steak ‘n Shake

Steak ‘n Shake,  a casual chain restaurant with over 500 locations in 29 states, has been hit with a collective action FLSA lawsuit on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP is representing the class that includes servers, bussers and runners who work or have worked for Steak ‘n Shake Operations, Inc. in the United States.  This lawsuit is filed on behalf of all servers, bussers, and runners who work or have worked at Steak ‘n Shake restaurants owned ...

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Gramercy Tavern Sued for Unpaid Wages

Two former tipped workers of the Michelin-starred restaurant Gramercy Tavern are suing owner and restaurant mogul Danny Meyer for unpaid wages. Meyer, who also owns several other restaurants such as Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Maialino, Jazz Standard, The Modern, North End Grill, and Union Square Café under the parent Company Union Square Hospitality, has been accused of being in violation of federal and state labor laws.

The ex-employees allege that they were not paid correctly and are consequently seeking ...

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Minimum Wage Increase for Fast-food Workers’ is Upheld

Handing down a victory for restaurant worker rights, the decision to increase the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 an hour in the state of New York has been upheld by a state oversight board. On Wednesday, the New York Industrial Board of Appeals rejected arguments made by the National Restaurant’s Association that claimed the mandate to increase wages was arbitrary and unfair by focusing on national chain restaurants with 30 or more locations.

Earlier this year ...

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Restaurants Are Eliminating Tipping

Joe’s Crab Shack has announced that they will be dropping tipping as a method of payment for all of its restaurants.  Employees of Joe’s Crab Shack will now be paid $14.00 per hour, but there is also the potential for pay to vary based on each particular employee’s past performance at the restaurant.  Joe’s Crab Shack’s parent corporation, Ignite Restaurant Group, first experimented with this policy at 18 of its locations, and will now be implementing it at all 113 ...

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RBC Overtime Settlement

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has agreed to settle a minimum wage and overtime lawsuit brought by Securities Brokers. The settlement would create a fund of $5.05 million to be split among eligible employees. The case was filed in Minnesota Federal Court.

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JP MORGAN CHASE SETTLEMENT

JP Morgan Chase recently settled a class action lawsuit encompassing thousands of loan underwriters for $42 million. The settlement covers Federal law- the Fair Labor Standards Act and many state laws. Chase alleged the underwriters were exempt from receiving overtime pay. However, an appeals Court and the Department of Labor issued opinions stating that mortgage loan officers and underwriters cannot be paid commission only and must be paid minimum wage and overtime. This is a very ...

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