Hybrid FLSA Collective Actions and State Wage and Hour Class Actions

This CLE course will examine the unique strategic issues hybrid wage/hour cases present for employment litigators and offer practical tips for navigating Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective actions and state wage and hour class claims simultaneously.

An increasing number of wage and hour lawsuits are filed as hybrid cases that include federal FLSA collective claims and state wage and hour class claims. Plaintiffs see procedural and substantive advantages in hybrid class actions. Defendants fear increased liability exposure and more complex litigation.

The mechanisms for bringing and defending claims under the FLSA and state laws are different and confusing for parties and counsel. Plaintiffs must navigate cases requiring them to opt into one class and opt out of another.

Employers defending against hybrid wage and hour class actions must determine the best approach for their case--seek removal, attack on jurisdiction grounds, address the merits first or oppose certification. Settling hybrid collective/class actions also presents unique challenges.

Listen as our authoritative panel of employment litigators explains the latest trends in hybrid wage and hour cases and discusses considerations and tactics for employment attorneys navigating federal and state wage and hour procedures simultaneously.