PetSmart Pays $10 Million as Wage Class Action Settlement

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According to documents filed in California federal court on January 31, 2014, PetSmart agreed to pay $10 million to settle claims that 16,000 animal groomers/workers (current and former) in more than 130 stores were underpaid.

The suit was originally filed in 2012 with allegations that PetSmart violated labor law. Plaintiffs claimed:

  • PetSmart failed to compensate groomers for time spent doing non-grooming duties (i.e. stocking/cleaning).
  • PetSmart stylists were paid 50% of the grooming fee. This failed to cover minimum wage requirements for time spent performing non-grooming duties.
  • PetSmart failed to compensate hourly employees for helping customers during meal breaks (employees were required to punch out of time clocks at the front of the store while the break rooms were located at the back of the store).
  • PetSmart broke California labor law mandating a meal period after 5 hours of work. Hourly employees were allowed 30-minute meal breaks if they worked 6-8 hours. 

The approval hearing for the PetSmart settlement has been set for March 7th. Successful settlement would resolve all allegations made against PetSmart by all plaintiffs included in the suit: hourly employees and stylists, grooming trainees as well as grooming salon managers who were employed in a California PetSmart store between May 23, 2008 and the present. The class for terminated PetSmart employees ranges from May 23, 2009 to the present.

For more news on recent employment law cases, check back often for updates from Blumenthal, Nordrehaug & Bhowmik. 

Employer Response to the Recession Not in the Employee’s Favor

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During the recent recession, employees and employers alike were pushed right to the edge. In the aftermath, new trends emerged. Americans found themselves working longer hours – usually for the same or less pay than before the recession hit. This could be seen as logical due to the fact that employers laid off close to 9 million American employees during the recession.

The problem is that all the logic of this solution lies on the side of the employer. Many employees are now starting to strike back through their legal system. Since the recession’s peak in 2008, more employees are filing suit against their employers citing federal and state wage and hour laws. In 2012, the number of lawsuits filed was up 32% in comparison to 2008. Experts indicate that the massive rise in lawsuits filed is due in part to the post-downturn severity that permeated the workplace and created an artificial increase in productivity.

Some of the main grievances cited by workers’ filing suit included:

·      Being forced to work off the clock
·      Misclassification as exempt from overtime pay requirements
·      Misuse of smartphones/technology resulting in constant disruption of personal time by “work” issues

If any of this sounds familiar. You may need to look a little bit closer into your work situation. You could be one of the many Americans struggling for success in a work environment that makes success nearly impossible.

If you find yourself working longer hours with less pay get in touch with the experts at Blumenthal, Nordrehaug & Bhowmik today. You may need some expert advice to get your career back on a healthy track.