Lawsuit Challenges Overtime Pay Policy

In this case, a class action lawsuit was filed for former and current Kansas City employees who are emergency medical technicians and paramedics. The lawsuit claims that the “city has had a policy of failing and refusing to compensate its EMTs and paramedics straight time for all hours worked and overtime compensation for all hours worked over forty hours per week.” The lawsuit claims that this city’s overtime pay policy is in violation of federal law for some employees.

The Kansas City Fire Department has approximately one hundred and forty paramedics and over one thousand emergency medical technicians and the City Attorney Galen Beaufort stated that, “there have been recent changes in shift assignments for some paramedics and EMTs, but officials think they are in compliance.” The president of the local 42 of the International Association of Fire Fighters also claims that the system was carefully researched and he did not think that the fair labor standards act (FLSA) was being violated.

In Tennessee and all over the United States when employees work more than forty hours in a single week they are entitled to receive overtime pay. However, many businesses try to find ways around paying their employees overtime pay or just fail to do so completely. Sometimes some of these failures even go against federal law requirements for overtime pay.

Unfortunately cases just like this one happen too often to workers all over the country and even right here to Tennessee workers. If you or someone you know feels like you have not been paid the overtime pay you are entitled to by law, then we strongly encourage you to contact one of our compassionate and experienced Tennessee labor law and FLSA attorneys as soon as possible. We care about our clients and will work with you to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve for the hours that you work. Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.