A former employee is suing the Great Neck Park District, accusing the agency of failing to pay overtime wages and improperly reducing his pension benefits. Edward Reed filed the suit on Nov. 7, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, claiming the district violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Reed alleges that during his tenure with the park district, he regularly worked more than 40 hours per week without receiving overtime pay, as required under FLSA. He also claims that on several occasions, he worked 10 consecutive days without receiving compensation for the additional hours.
Reed argues that this failure to pay overtime not only violated federal labor laws but also led to a significant reduction in his pension benefits, which are based on his final earnings.
"Had [the] plaintiff been properly paid overtime during those last three years," Reed argues, "his earnings used to determine his pension benefits would have increased."
The lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid overtime wages, as well as liquidated damages under FLSA guidelines. Reed also requests restitution for the reduced pension benefits resulting from unreported earnings due to unpaid overtime.
Additionally, he is seeking pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, along with coverage for reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs.
Jonathan Sisver, Esq., of Kew Gardens, New York, represents Reed. Case I.D. 2:24-cv-07786.