Lawsuits over wage and hour violations rose to a 20-year high this year, with over 7,000 cases filed in the year ending March 31. The number of cases has risen from around 1,800 in 2000. Experts say that the high unemployment rate and recession makes employees more likely to pursue claims for violations. However, others note that these cases are not sure things, and that the Fair Labor Standards Act is not always clear about what violations are, or the remedies for them. Many say that the law is outdated and does not take into account changes in both workplaces and the economy.
See "Worker Wage-and-Hour Suits Rise in Difficult Labor Market", Emily Grannis, Business Week, August 14, 2012