Wal-Mart slammed in a class action $54.25 million.

We don't do much wage and hour stuff on this site, which is to bad since we have ArmyRetCW3 who is heads up on the topic. This came off of BNA Daily Labor Report
According to the BNA Daily Labor Report:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. . . . announced that it has agreed to pay up to $54.25 million to settle a class action lawsuit that had alleged that it had violated Minnesota's labor laws by requiring employees to work off the clock during training (Braun v. Wal-Mart Inc., Minn. Dist. Ct., No. 19-CO-01-9790, settlement announced 12/9/2008).
In addition to a multi million dollar payout to workers, the settlement . . . includes terms providing that the retailer will pay the state a civil penalty, an amount that is expected to be the largest wage and hour civil penalty in state history.

Wal-Mart is fighting about 80 such suits and has lost a couple of multi-million dollar verdicts in the past year already.

The minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are not the most glamorous part of labor and employment law practice. However, they are becoming one of the most lucrative part of labor and employment practice for plaintiff attorneys. Hopefully we will see more justice meated out to employers like Wal-Mart.

One attorney commented to me one of the draw backs to this field of law, is Plaintiffs have to opt in rather than opt out. Some of you may have received a card in the mail that told you that you were party to a class, and to check if you want opt out. Such is not the case on FLSA claim plaintiffs attorney can find multiple violations,and employees fear to opt in for obvious reasons.

Legislation to change this is long overdue,but for now we take good news where we find it.
JoeC (McGruff)