Wal-Mart loses $187.6M worker break case Suit against retail giant covered 187,000 current and former Penn. employees
NEW YORK/CHICAGO — Wal-Mart Stores Inc has lost its appeal of most of a $187.6 million verdict for Pennsylvania hourly workers who accused the world's largest retailer of denying them meal and rest breaks.
A three-judge panel of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on Friday said there was sufficient evidence for Philadelphia jurors in 2006 to conclude that Wal-Mart's practices violated state wage and hour laws. It also said Wal-Mart's own internal review uncovered violations regarding "off-the-clock" work.
The case was brought on behalf of about 187,000 current and former Wal-Mart workers in Pennsylvania from 1998 to 2006.
They contended that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company's engaged in improper practices to enhance productivity, boost profit and cut costs.
"The record reflects testimony and documentary evidence suggesting that because of pressure from the home office to reduce labor costs and the availability of significant bonuses for managers based on store profitability, Wal-Mart's scheduling program created chronic understaffing, leading to widespread rest-break violations," the appeals court said.
Wal-Mart loses $187.6M worker break case Suit against retail giant covered 187,000 current and former Penn. employees
NEW YORK/CHICAGO — Wal-Mart Stores Inc has lost its appeal of most of a $187.6 million verdict for Pennsylvania hourly workers who accused the world's largest retailer of denying them meal and rest breaks.
A three-judge panel of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on Friday said there was sufficient evidence for Philadelphia jurors in 2006 to conclude that Wal-Mart's practices violated state wage and hour laws. It also said Wal-Mart's own internal review uncovered violations regarding "off-the-clock" work.
The case was brought on behalf of about 187,000 current and former Wal-Mart workers in Pennsylvania from 1998 to 2006.
They contended that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company's engaged in improper practices to enhance productivity, boost profit and cut costs.
"The record reflects testimony and documentary evidence suggesting that because of pressure from the home office to reduce labor costs and the availability of significant bonuses for managers based on store profitability, Wal-Mart's scheduling program created chronic understaffing, leading to widespread rest-break violations," the appeals court said.
Whooo-Ah!!! Wal-Mart loses another big one... Maybe one day they'll figure out that the wage/hours rules DO apply to them...
Never have understood liberals who root against Capitalism and job creating companies. Plese look up the facts before you cheer. What is the average wage WM pays? A lot more than minimum! How many jobs did you create? Hell they created more than obama even after he was given trillions of our tax dollars. THIS is exactly why LIbs should never run this country. They root for failure.
Are you for abuses in the workplace then Viking? Granted, it's not like working at the counter is hard manual labor, but if that's what they are legally owed, then WalMart broke the law. But maybe we should give look the other way, being as they are propping up our economy providing so many jobs...
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Science Chic wrote: Are you for abuses in the workplace then Viking? Granted, it's not like working at the counter is hard manual labor, but if that's what they are legally owed, then WalMart broke the law. But maybe we should give look the other way, being as they are propping up our economy providing so many jobs...
Which abuses are you talking about? Giving them a job? Employing more people than Obama could ever do with trillions of our dollars? Paying them way more than minimum wage? Giving them good healthcare benefits? Which abuses?
A three-judge panel of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on Friday said there was sufficient evidence for Philadelphia jurors in 2006 to conclude that Wal-Mart's practices violated state wage and hour laws. It also said Wal-Mart's own internal review uncovered violations regarding "off-the-clock" work.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
So what were the violations of hour laws? Giving them too many hours? Hmmmm...... I will bet millions of unemployed people would give anything for that right now. A bunch of F'n whiners who are fed the idea of an easy buck through a class action lawsuit through greedy lawyers because they want to go after those who are non union companies. They can all kiss my ass! They should all be fired and hire on 187,000 Americans who would appreciate a job. I am so sick of the sue happy Lawyers and the Libs that support them and that way of making money.
Oh brother. Read the court cases for yourself before guessing what actually happened.
The cases are Braun et al v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc et al and Hummel et al v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc et al, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, No. A21033/09.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Science Chic wrote: I dunno, a jury of their peers?
A three-judge panel of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on Friday said there was sufficient evidence for Philadelphia jurors in 2006 to conclude that Wal-Mart's practices violated state wage and hour laws. It also said Wal-Mart's own internal review uncovered violations regarding "off-the-clock" work.
Would love to see who those three judges were appointed by. Can't find it anywhere. And I have read it. America has, thanks in large part to the liberal welfare mentality, become a sue happy, make a quick buck rather than being grateful for what you have, nation. It is sad. TORT reform is SOOOOO needed!
If I remember correctly......the workers were putting in long hours but not getting paid for many of those hours....essentially working "off the clock" this helped Walmart to get more work from fewer employees (spare me the poor Walmart bit),. That doesn't create new jobs, that just makes current workers work more hours for the same pay ....essentially giving them less than minimum wage if you count all the off the clock hours.
