Chicago, IL: A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Family Video alleging the largest privately-owned video rental chain in the country with more than 6,500 employees forced staff to work "off the clock"without getting paid for standard and overtime hours. The video chain has 730 stores located in 19 states.
The suit claims that former employee Darvette Smith was not fairly compensated for standard and overtime hours worked at three Family Video store locations in Des Moines, Iowa, from November 2008 to January 2011.
Further, the suit alleges that Family Video violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act in an effort to strictly manage its labor costs. Unpaid work included assisting customers, opening stores, maintenance, making required phone calls, completing inventory-related tasks, stocking shelves, and closing down stores, which required balancing cash registers and making off-site bank deposits. The unpaid compensation includes hours worked below Family Video' mandated limit of 40 hours worked per week.
The complaint, which requests a jury trial, seeks unspecified compensatory and liquid damages, in addition to legal fees.
