The Dallas Fire Fighters Association is claiming that the City of Dallas, Texas has failed to pay hundreds of firefighters’ tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid overtime dating back several months. According to union officials, the city failed to pay some firefighters overtime for hours worked during the months of December 2021 and January 2022, in violation of city ...
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Overtime Exempt Battalion Chiefs, Flat Rate for Additional Hours Worked, and the FLSA
Today’s FLSA Question: I am an overtime exempt battalion chief for a full-time fire department. I do not receive any overtime pay for my scheduled work shifts or for required meetings or trainings. I receive extra pay for working additional hours on other shifts. For example, if one of the other two battalion chiefs is on vacation or takes a ...
Read More »Louisiana Fire Protection District Faces FLSA Lawsuit
The Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 5, in Denham Springs, Louisiana is facing an FLSA lawsuit filed by a former fire district employee. Former Livingston Parish Captain Brian Jackson filed the lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Jackson’s complaint contains two basic allegations. First, the district failed to pay Jackson and other unnamed ...
Read More »Paramedic Sign-On Bonuses, the Regular Rate and the FLSA
Today’s FLSA Question: My fire department initiated a “sign-on bonus” program for paramedics a couple of years ago. Under the terms of the program, lateral paramedic transfers received a one-time $5,000 sign-on bonus at the time of hire. In exchange for the bonus, the paramedic signed an agreement that they would remain employed with the fire department for at least ...
Read More »Lockheed Martin Corp. Facing FLSA Lawsuit from Firefighters
A group of four in-house firefighters that work for Lockheed Martin Corp.’s aircraft plant in Marietta, Georgia recently filed a lawsuit against the corporation alleging the company fails to pay overtime as required by federal law. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on April 6, contains allegations that the defense ...
Read More »California City Faces FLSA Overtime Lawsuit from Battalion Chief
The City of Encinitas, California is the latest city to face an FLSA overtime lawsuit from a fire department battalion chief. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on April 8, alleges the city misclassifies battalion chiefs as overtime exempt employees in violation of the FLSA. As of now, the lawsuit ...
Read More »Illinois 911 Dispatchers File FLSA Lawsuit Following DOL Investigation
Several current and former civilian emergency (911) dispatchers from Evanston, Illinois have filed a lawsuit alleging the City of Evanston failed to pay them overtime as required by both federal and state law. The dispatchers allege, in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on April 4, that the city has a practice ...
Read More »NJ Police Officers Prevail in FLSA Lawsuit Over Uncompensated Pre-Shift Work Activities
A federal judge has found in favor of a group of thirty Pemberton Township, New Jersey police officers and sergeants following their 2014 lawsuit over uncompensated pre-and-post shift work activities. The judge’s decision, which came after eight years of litigation and a 4-day bench [non-jury] trial found that Pemberton Township failed to pay the officers for time spent preparing their ...
Read More »Voluntary Attendance at Work-Related Conferences and the FLSA
Today’s FLSA Question: I am a fire chief for a small suburban fire department. Our local fire chiefs’ association is hosting a one-day presentation on leadership to be held at a neighboring community’s recreation facility. I am encouraging many of my personnel to attend what I believe will be a very valuable and worthwhile learning opportunity. Additionally, I will reimburse ...
Read More »Small Innovative City in Washington State Places Police Officers on 48/96 Firefighter Schedule
The City of Kittitass, Washington, a small city with a population under 2,000 people located in central Washington state, has adopted a highly unique, yet increasingly popular schedule for its law enforcement officers. According to Police 1, Police Chief Aaron Nelson struggled with maintaining police coverage twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week for the small city with only ...
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