Author Archives: Bill Maccarone

Dallas Firefighters Claim City Shorted them on Overtime Pay

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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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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