JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Many of you have reached out asking the I-TEAM for help after a ransomware attack knocked out the payroll systems used by several local businesses. Employees at UF Health Jacksonville, Baptist Health, Southeast Georgia Health System and Pepsi Co. tell us they have not been paid for the extra hours they have worked since the attack on Dec. 11. They say they are owed hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars in overtime, incentive pay and/or shift differential pay.
We asked local employment attorney Tad Delegal to explain their legal rights. He answers the four most common questions:
Delegal: “No, but if they fail to pay the employees the money, then under the Fair Labor Standards Act, there’s overtime due, then that overtime can be doubled as liquidated damages. So you, as an employee, have the right to be paid and double if you force the company to court, if they fail to pay. They have to pay your attorney’s fees. They could be liable for interest as well.”
Delegal: “Possibly yes. If the employee just walked off the job because he or she hasn’t been paid they are still entitled to money, but they voluntarily quit at that point.”
Delegal: “Well, they don’t really have the right to do that,...
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