Weight Watchers International, Inc.
ABBEY SPANIER INVESTIGATES WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. FOR UNFAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
Abbey Spanier is currently investigating Weight Watchers International, Inc., The WW Group, Inc. and Weight Watchers North America, Inc. for unfair employment practices.
Weight Watchers allegedly does not pay its hourly, non-exempt employees who hold the position of leader and receptionist for all hours worked. These employees run the Weight Watcher's local member meetings, but do not get compensated for all of the hours they spend in connection with these meetings. For example, leaders hold regular weekly meetings at designated locations, review weekly, materials issued by Weight Watchers and used in meetings, perform follow-up work for each meeting, including bank deposits and writing cards to its members, and provide support via telephone and email to the members who attend these meetings. Receptionists set up meetings, prepare materials for meetings, process financial transactions and help with weigh-ins of and communications with members, and perform various administrative functions before, during, and after the meetings.
Weight Watchers pays its leaders and receptionists for two and a half hours at their regular hourly wage plus commissions for each meeting – despite how many hours these employees actually worked. The meetings are usually longer than two and a half hours and leaders and receptionists spend additional hours preparing for the meetings and following-up with members after the meetings. These employees are not paid for their travel time between meetings. Also, they often do not earn commissions or additional compensation and are only paid for the arbitrary two and a half hours.
Weight Watcher's practice of failing to pay its employees for all time worked may be a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") and state wage and hour laws. The extra time spent by leaders and receptionists in connection with Weight Watcher meetings may be "off the clock" if the company fails to maintain accurate records of these hours. Despite the fact that this time is "off the clock," employees should be compensated for it under applicable state and federal laws. Also, the Fair Labor Standards Act and state laws require employers such as Weight Watchers to create and maintain payroll and time records for a certain periods of time.
In addition, Abbey Spanier is investigating Weight Watchers for failing to reimburse its employees for work-related travel expenses. The company has a policy of reimbursing leaders and receptionists for travel-related expenses on trips over 40 miles, but fails to compensate them for shorter trips. This practice of short-changing employees may be a violation of various state labor laws that prohibit illegal wage deductions and require employers to reimburse employees for necessary, work-related expenses.
Abbey Spanier has been representing employees in class and collective actions in federal and state courts throughout the United States for over a decade. Please visit our unfair employment practices page for more information about the firm's recent recoveries and achievements in this field. If you are a current or former employee of Weight Watchers please tell us your story.
Stephanie Amin-Giwner
P: 212.889.3700
E:
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Grace E. Parasmo
P: 212.889.3700
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