Attorneys said the settlement, announced Tuesday, guarantees $3.75 million in cash payments to workers and changes in future pay scales worth an estimated $10.3 million. The Golden, Colo.-based restaurant chain also agreed to reclassify some workers, change how hours are kept and offer training in Spanish, said L. Tracee Lorens, a lawyer representing the employees. The two suits, filed in federal court in San Diego in May 2005, represented claims from hourly employees and general managers at the chain, which has 630 outlets in 28 states. Hourly employees contended they had missed meals and breaks, worked off the clock and were shorted overtime. Managers claimed they were wrongly exempted from filing for overtime pay. Boston Market said in court filings that it had followed all California wage-and-hour laws and had done nothing wrong. "Boston Market is very pleased with the resolution of these two lawsuits," said attorney Mark Kemple. Hourly workers will be eligible to receive up to $2,800 each. Managers will receive up to $6,600, with exact amounts determined by the length of employment, Kemple said. Boston Market also agreed to change its timekeeping system for hourly employees and make managers eligible for overtime.
Boston Market settles class action claims by 7,000 workers
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Boston Market Corp. has agreed to pay up to $14 million in cash and benefits to settle a pair of class-action lawsuits brought by nearly 7,000 current and former employees.
