What Employee Overtime Pay Laws Apply to Subway

Popular Restaurants could Face More Unpaid Wages Lawsuits If They Do Not Comply with FLSA

Updated on Author: Sergei Lemberg

Updated on Author: Sergei Lemberg

Many of the Subway employees fall under the non-exempt category of employment and MUST be paid overtime wages according to the guidelines laid out in the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA). The FLSA sets the overtime rate for non-exempt employees at time and one-half their standard rate of pay for any time worked over 40 hours in a single week.

The FLSA regulations do not apply to “administrative” or “professional” employees due to exemptions preventing specific categories of employees from receiving overtime pay.

Exemptions are not based entirely on one’s job title, however. Whether or not an employee should receive overtime pay is calculated by the hours worked, the rate of pay, the job duties, and even the job description.

It’s always a good idea to speak with an attorney with experience in overtime pay laws due to issues with additional state laws governing overtime pay. These laws sometimes overlap federal laws and further complicate or contradict the FLSA.

What is Subway?

One of the fastest-growing franchises in the world, Subway is an American privately held fast food restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. Founded in 1968, Subway is widely recognized for their green and yellow trade dress and iconic logo. Currently, their advertising slogan is “Eat Fresh.” While an individual Subway franchise, on average, generates nearly $500,000 in sales annually, the overarching corporation is worth more than $7 billion. Subway markets itself as a ‘healthy option’ in the mega-chain category, and is certainly one of America’s most recognizable and successful sandwich shops.

Can Subway Employees Earn Overtime Wages?

Read more about Wage Theft here

Numerous non-exempt Subway employees may be required to start before their shifts or even work after their shifts finish off the clock. It is not uncommon for employees to work double shifts as well. Because of this, if many Subway employees exceed 40 working hours in a single week, they should receive overtime pay.

Employers have been known to illegally misclassify positions to avoid paying overtime. For instance, Subway shift or location managers may have been labeled “managers” with the goal of marking them exempt from overtime pay. However, these employees are in fact non-exempt because of the nature of their job duties.

Often companies label employees as managers even though they do not fill vital roles for the business. The FLSA dictates that “managers” must have specific abilities, for instance, hiring or firing employees, making schedules, or completing other tasks that are essential to the running of the business. Typically these employees do not perform these duties and are instead only labeled as managers for employers to save money by avoiding paying overtime.

Another unlawful practice that the Subway may perform is having employees clock in before a shift or asking them to stay after a shift without compensating them. This practice of manipulating time cards to keep payroll costs down is a violation of the FLSA and can result in a lawsuit.

How Can a FLSA Lawyer Help You

An experienced lawyer can analyze your case and see if you are entitled to lost overtime wages from Subway by evaluating how state and federal laws apply to your situation.

Does Subway Have to Pay Overtime Wages to Employees?

See our Overtime Pay Checklist here

For the most part, Subway must pay overtime to non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a week as long as they are not excluded by the FLSA. However, these exemptions become more complicated by some states that have additional laws governing them.

If you feel like you have been denied overtime wages, then it is in your best interest to consult an attorney with FLSA experience and knowledge of state overtime laws.

Are There Other Overtime Pay Lawsuits Involving Subway?

Here are a few examples from the many previous lawsuits that have been issued against other employers for failing to pay overtime wages:

  • According to data polled between 2000 and 2013, Subway franchises had a combined 17,000 FLSA violations and resulted in franchisees having to reimburse Subway workers more than $3.8 million over the years.
  • Justia lists 62 lawsuits against Subway related to labor disputes

Also, see: Have you been the victim of workplace sexual harassment?

If you feel as though Subway or any another employer has denied you overtime wages, you could have a case. Please get in touch with the Lemberg Law legal team. Complete our form for a FREE case evaluation, or call 844-685-9200 NOW. Lemberg Law will evaluate your case as see if you are eligible to receive lost overtime wages as a non-exempt employee.

Sergei Lemberg

About the Author:

Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."

See more posts from Sergei Lemberg
1 COMMENT
  • Susan L

    I worked at a Subway here in Chattanooga Tennessee I worked over 40 hours a week and no they did not pay me any overtime for the hours that I worked over 40 I also got punished for not making a percentage rate on Deluxe’s they made me work 8 hours shifts for punishment with no no pay they are not a good company to work for they take a Avantage of their employees and their managers they put alot on there employees and don’t pay worth anything I hate working for them it not worth the stress or the headache to work for them

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