Several former Publix assistant managers are suing the grocery chain for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, alleging that the company failed to pay them for overtime hours worked before shifts, after shifts and during meal breaks.

Among the plaintiffs in the collective action filed Oct. 26 in the Middle District of Florida is Brandy Moore, a resident of Weeki Wachee, Fla. The other two plaintiffs come from Tennessee and Georgia. The lawsuit is a collective action that would include other Publix employees who were also subject to the defendant`s alleged violations of the labor law.

“While (the) defendant required assistant department managers to work overtime hours, it did not pay them for all hours worked, including time spent working inside Publix stores performing pre- and post-shift work off the clock required by Publix or their supervisors; time spent working during unpaid meal breaks; and time spent outside of Publix stores communicating with supervisors and co-workers, and other directives, off the clock,” the lawsuit states.