You think you work long hours? Collinsville towing company dispatcher Nancy K. Sandage said she was forced to work between 85 hours and 116 hours per week, according to the St. Clair Record. Even more shocking are her allegations that she worked such staggering hours without overtime pay or even minimum wage.
That averages out to as much as 16.5 hours per day in a seven day work week.
With the help of an Illinois employment lawyer, she filed a lawsuit on Aug. 9 against former employer Thomas Brothers. She's seeking more than $50,000 in compensatory damages and more than $50,000 in punitive damages, in addition to attorney's fees, costs and any additional relief granted by the court.
She claims she lost overtime pay and minimum wage pay; while experiencing pain, suffering, humiliation, embarrassment and the loss of her enjoyment of life.
According to the complaint, Nancy Sandage provided the Ill. Dept. of Labor with information about her employer's alleged refusal to pay overtime or the minimum wage. Following her claim with IDOT, the lawsuit alleges, she was forced to resign by "making her work activities abusive, by refusing to provide her with a regular work schedule and by refusing to work her on a regular basis."
So in addition to the wage and hour issues related to unpaid overtime and failure to pay the minimum wage, she may also have claims of discrimination and a hostile work environment. But the article did not provide a complete list of the counts filed in the suit. Wage and hour law is a big deal and can cost employers that violate the law significant sums in civil court.
Federal law stipulates that overtime, defined as any time worked beyond 40 hours per week, be paid at the rate of time and one-half, according to FindLaw. And while the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25, it is $8.25 in Illinois.
If you believe you are not being paid fairly, you may want to consult with a Chicago employment lawyer to review your legal options.
Related Resources:
- Wages & Benefits: Overview (FindLaw)
- Browse Illinois Employment Lawyers (FindLaw)
- BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. and Failure to Pay Overtime (FindLaw's Law & Daily Life Blog)
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