Verizon Overtime Lawsuit

Yet another Verizon overtime lawsuit is proceeding in California, delivering a preliminary victory for employees.

In May 2021, 537 current and former employees of Verizon Connect Inc. filed a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging that they were denied overtime, meal and rest breaks, and expense reimbursement in violation of California and federal wage laws.

Verizon Connect Inc. (a subsidiary of Verizon Communications) offers fleet management software and solutions designed to help fleet managers optimize automation of, communicate with, and GPS track commercial vehicle fleets.

On January 30, 2023, the case entered mediation and both parties came to a $1.6 million settlement agreement.

In mid-June 2023, U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff granted the settlement preliminary approval, ruling that it represented an acceptable resolution for both parties.

Judge Huff also set a final approval hearing of the settlement agreement for October 30, 2023.

The case, Santillan V. Verizon Connect Inc. Et Al., was first filed in San Diego County Superior Court by Antonio Hiram Santillan, who was a salaried, non-exempt Verizon employee between January 2020 to December 2020. His most recent position at Verizon Connect Inc. was as a Government Customer Success Manager.

Santillan claimed that Verizon Connect Inc. omitted nondiscretionary bonuses from its calculation of employee overtime pay, didn’t provide or compensate employees for missed mandatory meal breaks, and didn’t reimburse employees’ expenses.

Specific claims outlined in the class action suit allege Verizon Connect Inc.:

• Failed to pay overtime wages according to legal overtime pay rate requirements
• Failed to provide all mandatory meal periods
• Failed to pay all due wages
• Failed to reimburse employees’ business expenses
• Failed to file accurate wage statements in a timely manner
• Engaged in unfair business practices

The 537 class action members will receive some $977,000 divided among them on a pro-rata basis. Each individual’s payout will be calculated according to the weeks worked since May 2017, but is expected to average around $1,800 per person.

Furthermore, workers who opt into a related collective action for damages brought by Verizon employees from 2018, alleging Fair Labor Standards Act violations, will be entitled to a portion of an additional $25,000 award.

Anyone employed by Verizon Connect Inc. in California as a nonexempt employee during Fair Labor Standards Act Workweeks between May 19, 2017, and April 30, 2023, is eligible for the settlement.