I just learned that George Mason Mortgage, owned by Cardinal Bank, has been sued for FLSA violations. Apparently they did not pay their loan officers minimum wage and overtime, so it is not surprising that they now have to pay much more in legal fees and penalties, than they may have saved by violating the labor laws.

So here is a warning to all those big banks who think they can do anything they like and get away with it - you can’t. Most of the time, these lawsuits could be avoided if employers don’t play hardball with their employees and pay them in full (regardless of petty disputes over a few hundred dollars) when the employment is terminated. Happy ex employees are much less costly than unhappy FLSA plaintiffs.