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Trump’s driver sues for overtime pay

On Behalf of | Jul 12, 2018 | Employee Rights |

California residents may have heard about allegations made by employees or contractors who performed services for Donald Trump about not being paid properly. Trump’s former personal driver filed a lawsuit against the Trump Organization asking for 3,300 hours of unpaid overtime over the past six years. Statutes of limitation prevent him from seeking wages from before 2012. In the lawsuit, the plaintiff says that he worked 55 hours a week on a fixed salary.

In 2003, he was paid $62,700, and the former driver was given raises in 2006 and 2010. However, the lawsuit claims that by taking the pay raise in 2010, the plaintiff was required to give up his health insurance. The 2010 raise increased his salary from $68,000 to $75,000 while Trump reportedly saved $17,866 in premium payments. In the lawsuit, the man claims that he was never given an annual wage notice as required by New York state law.

He had served the Trump Organization for 30 years and was Trump’s driver until being replaced by the Secret Service. The driver was also required to provide rides to other Trump family members and business associates as needed. The man seeks $200,000 in damages in his lawsuit. A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization said that the man was paid generously and within the guidelines of the law.

If an employee has a claim for unpaid overtime, it may be worthwhile to consult with an attorney to determine how to pursue it. In some cases, private negotiations may be enough to resolve the issue. However, if the employer is not amenable to private talks, it may be necessary to resolve the matter through litigation. Arbitration and mediation may also work to resolve the issue to an employee’s benefit.