Today’s FLSA Question: I am a full-time firefighter in a small combination fire department. My department has a long history of providing FLSA comp time instead of paying FLSA overtime. However, the department uses the firefighter’s base hourly rate when using accrued comp time. This base rate does not include any wage incentives or stipends. Additionally, the fire department allows ...
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$1.575 Million Settlement in Milwaukee Fire Department FLSA Suit
The City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has proposed a settlement of more than $1.5 million with several hundred city firefighters following a 2020 FLSA lawsuit. The settlement, which still requires court approval, allocates up to $1.15 million for back wages and damages, up to $400k for the firefighters’ attorneys, another $25k for court costs, and an additional $5k for the firefighter ...
Read More »Honolulu Medic Files FLSA Lawsuit
A paramedic from Honolulu, Hawaii has filed an FLSA lawsuit on behalf of himself, and other similarly situated individuals, claiming the Honolulu Department of Emergency Services is violating the FLSA. In the complaint, which was filed last week in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, paramedic Robert Hayslip makes three basic allegations: Hayslip alleges his employer ...
Read More »Florida First Responders Receive $1,000 Bonus Checks
For the second year in a row, Florida firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers will receive $1,000 bonus checks from the state. The program, which is intended to reward the work of first responders state-wide, allocates $125 million to the program. In total over 100,000 first responders will receive checks. Gov. DeSantis hand-delivered some of the checks to Jacksonville Fire ...
Read More »More Litigation in Morgantown
Lawyers representing almost one-hundred Morgantown, West Virginia firefighters and police officers filed four separate lawsuits against the city this past week. In addition to the lawsuits, the unions that represent the city’s police officers and firefighters also announced “no-confidence” votes in the city council, city manager, and human resources director. The firefighters and police officers claim that recent reductions in ...
Read More »Portland Firefighters Seek Double Overtime Due to Persistent Staffing Shortages
The Portland Firefighters’ Association, IAFF Local 43, is requesting that the City of Portland, Oregon increase firefighter overtime to a double time rate instead of the traditional time and one-half rate due to chronic staffing shortages and an excessive amount of mandatory overtime. According to both the city and the union, firefighters face progressive discipline if they refuse to work ...
Read More »$415K Settlement in WV Holiday Pay Lawsuit
The City of Huntington, West Virginia has agreed to a $415,000 settlement with a group of current and former city firefighters following their 2020 lawsuit over holiday pay. The firefighters’ allegations center around a unique portion of the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act that requires paid firefighters either receive time and one-half pay for all hours worked on ...
Read More »Reimbursement for Lost and Damaged Department Issued Electronic Devices and the FLSA
Today’s FLSA Question: I am a fire chief for a small full-time fire and EMS department. The folks at town hall just announced a new town-wide policy that requires all senior-level administrative staff [including myself and my assistant chief] be financially responsible for any costs associated with the loss, theft, or damage of any department issued electronic device. This includes ...
Read More »FL Fire District Settles FLSA Lawsuit with Firefighters
The Destin Fire Control District has settled an FLSA lawsuit with a total of nine firefighters for almost $40,000. The firefighters had alleged that the district required them to attend specific training sessions while off-duty and did not compensate them for that time. The district countered by claiming the firefighters attendance at the trainings was purely voluntary and provided by ...
Read More »Settlement Reached with CA Sheriff Deputies Following FLSA Lawsuit
San Joaquin County, California has reached a $279,000 settlement with a group of sheriff deputies following a 2020 lawsuit for alleged FLSA violations. The settlement, which was approved by a federal judge on August 15, 2022, settles a lawsuit filed by forty sergeants from the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office. The sergeants claimed that the county failed to properly calculate their ...
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