Stewart's Shops Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Wages

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Stewart's Shops is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging violations of state and federal wage and hour laws.

The lawsuit, filed Jan. 9 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York in Albany, alleges that Stewart's Shops failed to compensate employees for all hours worked. Specifically, it alleges that employees were routinely required to perform work before and after their scheduled shifts yet were not paid for such time, according to a news release.

The class-action lawsuit also alleges that the Saratoga Springs-based retailer routinely deprived employees of mandatory meal breaks; failed to implement an accurate and effective method to record time worked by employees; failed to provide employees with mandatory disclosures concerning their rate of pay; and failed to pay for the cost to launder and maintain required uniforms.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of 4,500 current and former Stewart's Shops employees throughout New York and Vermont.

The case is being prosecuted by Ryan M. Finn, Esq. of Hacker Murphy LLP, an Albany-based litigation firm.

Stewart's Shops operates 330 convenience stores in upstate New York and southern Vermont.