A U.S. District Court judge approved a $3.725 million settlement to be paid by Massillon, Ohio-based meat processor Fresh Mark Inc. to resolve a lawsuit claiming it did not properly compensate employees for overtime, according to local news reports.
Former employee Antoine McElroy, who worked for the company from 2006-2021 as a machine operator in the company’s Canton facility, filed the lawsuit on behalf of himself and his co-workers in February 2022. The suit claimed employees were not paid for working during pre- and post-shift operations, including donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
After attorney, mediation and administration fees are paid, McElroy and his co-workers will split $2.4 million, with McElroy receiving $20,000 as the primary plaintiff. According to the report, more than 7,500 employees who worked for the company from 2019 through 2022 are eligible for monetary compensation via the settlement.
