ALBANY, N.Y. -- Stewart's Shops is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging violations of state and federal wage and hour laws.
The lawsuit, filed on Jan. 9, 2014, in Federal District Court (Northern District of New York), alleges that Stewart's Shops failed to compensate employees for all hours worked. Specifically, it alleges that employees were routinely required to perform work before and after their scheduled shifts yet were not paid for such time.
The suit also alleges that the defendant routinely deprived employees of mandatory meal breaks; failed to implement an accurate and effective method to record time worked by employees; failed to provide employees with mandatory disclosures concerning their rate of pay; and failed to pay for the cost to launder and maintain required uniforms.
The lawsuit seeks class action status on behalf of 4,500 current and former Stewart's Shops employees throughout New York and Vermont.
Ryan M. Finn, Esq. of Hacker Murphy LLP, an Albany, N.Y., based litigation firm, is prosecuting the case.
"Stewart's Shops has no comment at this time, as we have not yet been served," company spokesperson Maria D'Amelia told CSP Daily News.
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based Stewart's Shops operates more than 300 stores located across upstate New York and southern Vermont.
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