Kroger Beats Summary Judgment in Recruiters’ Lawsuit Over Wages

Dozens of current and former recruiters who accuse Kroger Inc. of underpaying them aren’t entitled to a quick victory in their collective action because an administrative exception may apply, a federal court in Cincinnati said.

But the company can’t use the defense that if it did misclassify these workers, it did so in good faith, the court added.

The plaintiffs work or worked at Kroger’s Center of Recruiting Excellence, reviewing applicants for grocery store positions, conducting screening calls, and scheduling in-store interviews. The recruiters allege Kroger misclassified them as administrative workers, exempting the company from having to pay overtime wage ...