PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A group of Publix workers have filed a federal lawsuit alleging the company consistently required them to work off the clock without being paid.
Records show the suit against the Lakeland-based chain was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court. The suit against one of Florida’s best-known companies was filed in part by one of the Sunshine State’s most prominent law firms: Orlando-based Morgan & Morgan.
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The plaintiffs, who worked as assistant department managers at Publix stores in Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia, allege that Publix failed to pay them for hundreds of overtime hours.
They allege they were compelled to complete various tasks inside stores before and after clocking out and were expected to answer colleagues’ texts after hours and during unpaid lunch breaks, according to the complaint.
Plaintiffs said Publix owes them overtime pay for these off-the-clock hours, but it is unclear how much money they are asking to be reimbursed.
According to prosecutors, the lawsuit proposes a collective action under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act to include similarly affected employees who worked within the past three years across Publix’s 1,300 locations throughout the Southeast. Any affected Publix assistant department managers can join.
According to a release by Morgan & Morgan and Shavitz Law Group, they represent and have been contacted by dozens of affected employees who worked in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina who have experienced the same issues.
Local 10 News has contacted Publix seeking comment. The chain hadn’t yet responded Thursday afternoon.
The Morgan & Morgan and Shavitz Law Group released the following statement, which you can read here:
Read the court filings: