Class Action Status Denied For Bankers’ Working Lunch Claim

A New York District Court said non-exempt bankers failed to make their case that a combination of workload, auto-deduct meal policy, and pressure not to log overtime justified creating a class-wide illegal policy. Plaintiffs represented personal bankers at numerous bank branches across five states, but the court found their evidence – general feelings, ambiguous policies, and hearsay comments – was insufficient for even a conditional certification under the Fair Labor Standards Act.