NEW YORK — A settlement has been reached in yet another wage and overtime pay lawsuit brought against Equinox Holdings Inc. The company has agreed to pay up to $4 million to employees who have alleged they were denied proper overtime wages and meal and rest breaks in violation of California labor laws. The settlement is still tentative and needs final approval before the claim will be resolved. The class members will be notified of the proposed settlement and if the settlement is finalized.
Equinox Settlements
Equinox owns health club locations across California. In 2011, membership sales advisers filed a class action wage and overtime lawsuit claiming they were misclassified as exempt from overtime. In April 2014, the company reached a $2.9 million settlement covering unpaid wages dating back to 2012 with 276 sales advisers.
And in 2012, a group of employees filed the current lawsuit claiming the company denied both meal and rest breaks and overtime pay when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek. The employees in the current lawsuit alleged the company either miscalculated their wages by failing to include minimum wage from non-commissionable hours or the non-commissionable time was not included at all. The employees, who will share in close to $2.6 million of the $4 million settlement, include aestheticians, massage therapists, and nail technicians. The remaining portion of the settlement will go towards attorneys’ fees, additional payments to the named plaintiffs in the case, and penalties owed to the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
Even if this settlement is finalized, there is one additional wage and overtime lawsuit which needs resolution between Equinox and an operations administrator. The remaining lawsuit also includes allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Bringing Overtime Claims
As the multiple overtime claims against Equinox show, more than one lawsuit can be brought against an employer. In fact, more than one class action can be filed. If you believe you have been denied overtime wages or you have been misclassified as exempt from overtime, you may be eligible to join an existing class action, like the massage therapists or the sales adviser. Or you may need to file a separate claim.
Determining if you have an overtime claim or whether to file an individual claim or to join an existing class action depends on many factors. But, time is limited for filing wage and overtime complaints so it is important to call today! Our experienced team of overtime pay lawyers will discuss and evaluate your claim and can be reached at (855) 754-2795. Or you can complete our Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form and our knowledgeable legal team will review and evaluate your claim. If we accept your case, we will represent you under our No Fee Promise. This means there are no legal fees or costs unless you receive a settlement.