BJ's Wholesale Club Pays 233 Employees $320,000 in Overtime Back Wages Following U.S. Labor Department Investigation
BOSTON -- BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc., based in Natick, Mass., has paid $320,000 in back wages to 233 employees for uncompensated overtime work revealed during a U.S. Department of Labor investigation.
"Both this investigation and our new Overtime Security rules reflect our commitment to protecting the overtime rights of workers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "In this case, Club Personnel Managers weren't receiving their rightful overtime pay, and this Administration took action and restored $320,000 in back wages to 233 employees. Workers' overtime rights are further strengthened by our new Overtime Security rules, which increase protections for millions of workers by updating and clarifying the old regulations."
The investigation by the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division covered the period between Oct. 6, 2001 and Oct. 4, 2003 and found that one position in the company - that of Club Personnel Manager - was improperly classified by the employer as being exempt from overtime under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Under the FLSA, covered workers are entitled to the minimum wage and overtime pay at one and one-half times the regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek.
The company owns and operates a chain of retail "club" establishments with 140 locations throughout the Northeast. A self-audit done by BJ's subsequent to the Labor Department investigation revealed that the firm employed 233 individuals in the position of Club Personnel Manager during the period covered by the investigation. It was also shown that each of these employees worked approximately five hours of overtime per week during the period.
BJ's management agreed that the 233 Club Personnel Managers were due $320,000 in overtime-back wages, and to complete the back wage payments by June 30, 2004.
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recovered more than $212 million in back wages in fiscal year (FY) 2003, a 21 percent increase over the record-setting amount of FY 2002. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased in FY 2003 from 129 days to 108 days. WHD assessed employers nearly $10 million in civil money penalties in FY 2003.
For more information about the provisions of the FLSA, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243), or contact the Boston office at (617) 624-6700 or the Hartford office at (860) 240-4160. Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.
14 comments:
BJs doesnt pay enough any way. Corporate crooks!
Even better - here in florida they don't pay at all, then when you call HR they fire you!
to those who have negative things to say about bjs, perhaps you should not work for them and be homeless and without food, then maybe you will be glad to be receiving somesort of check, there are also some good things about bjs if you would take your head out of A and look instead of thinking about bringing them down.
For the quite ignorant person who made the comment above me why don't you try being homeless? I have not heard one person say they don't like there job or they don't want to work there. It is a reality that employers are not going to pay you what you deserve to get paid. Why, because it's money out of their pockets. I don't feel like there is a problem in knowing that I deserve more and neither do they, but since you feel like YOUR good for nothing... good for you. This does not mean I don't enjoy my job or that I don't feel like there are good aspects of it, but the reality is there are a lot of things that could be better and pay is one of them.
To you maybe I was homeless and hungry did you think about that and maybe I love the fact that i have a job that can keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach thank God, for my job at bjs maybe you should to.
Never said I didn't think God for having a job, but I do know you should stop contradicting yourself. For some reason people in general have a problem with letting someone else have an opinion. People always chastise others because they don't have the same opinion as them. And that's your problem! If your homeless good for you there's plenty out there, but don't tell someone else what they should do. And I'm wondering if you ever been homeless in your life forced to live on the street cause you throw it around so loosely and like it's a bad thing. Just to let you know some people choose to be homeless. For a wake up call also, my little job at BJ's is not enough to keep a roof over my head. That's why you should not assume things about people.
People should not complain about a job they apply for. If applying you should look into what goes on there before. Ex:what they do ?do they work long hours ? things like that. Now if your there for a while and things get bad just look around to better yourself see what,s out there.But sometime its not always more green on the other side.
Bj's sucks they fired people for no reason, they make up stories. its all about politics, bjs have horrible morals and bad business ethics. i hope they all fail!!!
BJ's is a good company that rewards people who work hard and show that they care. Maybe you didn't...
I've been at BJ's for over a year now and I agree it is all about politics. RMs always use scare tactics to get the job done. Hourly employees are held more accountable than managers. They look for any reason they can find to write you up. Overnight Managers are working between 65-80 hours a week whereas day managers are working between 40-48. No wonder why everyone quits except senior managers. There's just way too many chiefs and not enough indians
It would be real nice if some of these dead-weight managers (One example being my boss) treated the people who make their sorry asses look good a lot better. Until then I just come in, do the bare minimum and leave.
It's true that a lot of managers are getting away with things that any other employee get fired for. I've been with Bjs for over 8 years now, working my way up in positions. It's about hard work and perseverance and patience. But then again my manager could put in risk our customers with lamebrain ideals and policies. Climbing that ladder of hierarchy does not work. But in the end I believe those who are wrong get theirs in the end.
bj's will pay up!!!
There is a November 2009 lawsuit regarding BJ's Mid Level management receiving OT pay for hours worked over 40. The Mid Level management would have to have been in that position in 2007. The lawsuit and settlement will affect current and former Mid Level managers. Please read up on it.
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