Sam’s Club (Hourly-Paid Employees)

Brown, LLC has filed a lawsuit concerning wage and hour violations allegedly committed by Wal-Mart Associates, Inc. d/b/a Sam’s Club. Filing a lawsuit does not mean the Defendant has been found liable or should be presumed to have done anything wrong.

The wage and hour attorneys at Brown, LLC are seeking information from current and former employees related to the following claims.

The Defendant

Sam’s Club is a membership-based warehouse retail chain operated by Wal-Mart Associates, Inc. The company owns and operates 25 Sam’s Club locations across Illinois and employs thousands of hourly-paid workers across its retail and distribution facilities.

The Employees

Position(s): Hourly-paid, non-exempt employees (e.g., Café Associates and similar roles)

Location(s): Sam’s Club locations throughout Illinois

Time Period: For FLSA claims – May 2022 to present; For IWPCA and IMWL claims – May 2015 to present.

The Claims in the Lawsuit

The complaint alleges that Sam’s Club routinely revised employees’ clock-in and clock-out times to reflect fewer hours than actually worked. These alleged time edits resulted in underpayment for both regular and overtime hours. Employees were not paid for all time worked, including time over 40 hours per week, despite often working five or more shifts weekly, each lasting 8 hours or longer

Violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”)

The Complaint alleges that Wal-Mart Associates, Inc. d/b/a Sam’s Club:

• Willfully revised time records to reflect fewer hours than actually worked
• Failed to pay hourly-paid workers for all hours worked, including overtime (time over 40 hours per week)
• Failed to maintain accurate records of time worked

Violations of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law (“IMWL”)

The complaint alleges:

• Employees regularly worked more than 40 hours per week
• Time edits resulted in workers not receiving overtime pay (1.5x regular rate) for all overtime hours

Violations of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (“IWPCA”)

The complaint further alleges:

• Sam’s Club entered into implied agreements with workers to pay hourly wages for all time worked
• The company failed to fulfill those agreements due to time clock edits, resulting in unpaid regular wages

Case Status

May 8, 2025: The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

How to Participate

If you believe you were impacted by the claims in this case, please reach out to our office. If our attorneys determine that you are eligible to join the lawsuit, you will be provided with a Consent to Join Form.

Time is critical—FLSA claims may be barred if you wait too long. The statute of limitations is two years from the alleged violation (three years for willful violations). Signing a Consent to Join form can help preserve your rights.

Once joined, you may be bound by the result—whether favorable or not. This means that if the case settles or prevails, you may receive compensation; if it does not, you may be unable to bring the same claim later.

Contact Brown, LLC at FLSAGroup@jtblawgroup.com or (877) 561-0000 for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Defendant Discipline or Fire Me If I Join the Case?

No. The FLSA prohibits retaliation for participating in a lawsuit. As of now, there are no allegations that Sam’s Club has retaliated against any workers for participating.

Will I Have to Testify or Provide Documents?

Possibly, but not necessarily. In most wage-and-hour cases, employers are required to produce time and pay records. While it is helpful to preserve any records you do have, it’s not necessary to prove your case up front.

Will Brown, LLC Be My Attorneys?

Yes, if you sign a retainer and/or Consent to Join form. You will not pay legal fees unless there is a recovery. If successful, attorneys’ fees will be requested from the Defendant, not you.

How Long Will the Case Take?

It is hard to predict exact timelines for cases due to a variety of factors including the number of parties and claims involved, the rules and pace of the court, the complexity of the proofs, and how the defendant responds to and in the case. Generally, wage-and-hour cases have an average timeline of 2–3 years, though timelines vary depending on court procedures and defendant conduct.

Whether you’re eligible to participate in this matter or not, if you have questions regarding this page, or have information regarding these allegations please contact the wage and hour lawyers at Brown, LLC by calling (877) 561-0000. If you’re potentially seeking representation the call is confidential. The lawyers at Brown, LLC can arrange to speak with you when it’s most convenient for you – including after-hours or on the weekend.

Conclusion

Sam’s Club has not been found liable for any of the claims at this time. These are allegations that must be proven in court through the legal process. If you have information, believe you’ve been affected, or want to learn more, please reach out to Brown, LLC at (877) 561-0000 or FLSAGroup@jtblawgroup.com.