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At BJ’s Wholesale Club, the Definition of Personnel Manager Proves Costly

By Staff Report

Jul. 16, 2004

BJ’s Wholesale Club paid $320,000 in overtime pay to 233 employees as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, according to the Boston Globe.
 
Many of BJ’s 151 stores employ someone called a “club personnel manager.” According to the Labor Department, this person–who answers benefits questions, handles job applications and inputs employee schedules–should not be exempt from federal overtime laws. While BJ’s disagreed with the findings, it said it only settled “to avoid the expense of litigation,” according to the Globe.
 
BJ’s personnel managers make $14.93 an hour, on average, and work about five overtime hours each week.
 
New federal overtime rules will go into effect August 23. The U.S. Department of Labor has information online at http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/main.htm and by telephone at (866) 487-9243.

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