Heidi Burakiewicz

Sometimes federal employees are eligible for hazardous duty pay. Now a lawsuit alleges numerous employees didn’t get it.

The American Federation of Government Employees and the Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch law firm say employees working through the coronavirus pandemic without the proper protective gear are entitled to hazardous duty pay.

The National Treasury Employees Union had argued it was unconstitutional for the IRS to force tens of thousands of workers to process tax refunds without pay. The union is appealing the decision.

Six years after the 2013 government shutdown, attorneys have determined exactly how many federal employees are eligible for liquidated damages based on a class-action lawsuit, but it’s still unclear how much they’re owed.

In today’s Federal Newscast, a group of nearly 40 senators are urging the appropriations committee to include back pay for federal contractors impacted by the last government shutdown, in an upcoming disaster relief package.

Before the reopening of the government Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with Heidi Burakiewicz, partner at Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, who represents many Bureau of Prison employees.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates there were about $2.3 billion in government contracts that would have been issued to small firms over the past month, but weren’t because of the government shutdown.

If the lawsuits over the 2018-2019 shutdown go the way of the last one, the money for damages should come faster than in 2013.

A federal district judge refused to compel the executive branch to find an immediate end to the government shutdown’s impacts on excepted federal employees working without pay. The judge’s decision maintains the status quo. Other lawsuits challenging the shutdown’s legitimacy are still pending.

The National Treasury Employees Union said excepted federal employees who have been working without pay during the partial government shutdown should be paid full wages, including overtime, and other damages.