The New York City Department of Education is facing a lawsuit filed by a group of its current and former employees who allege that the department has systematically violated federal labor laws. The complaint, lodged on November 25, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by plaintiffs including Sharon Bell and Ryan Redmond, accuses the Department of Education of failing to properly compensate them for overtime work.
The plaintiffs, who have worked as Special Officers and Sergeants within the department, claim that they have been denied rightful overtime pay due to various unlawful practices. According to the complaint, these employees were often required to work beyond their scheduled shifts without receiving compensation for their extra hours. The lawsuit highlights that this unpaid work includes tasks performed before and after shifts as well as during unpaid meal breaks. The plaintiffs argue that such practices violate the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which mandates overtime pay at one and a half times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a week.
In addition to uncompensated overtime work, the plaintiffs assert that when they did receive overtime pay, it was calculated incorrectly. They allege that night shift differentials were not included in their regular rate of pay, leading to underpayment for overtime hours. Furthermore, even when approved overtime was compensated, payments were often delayed by weeks or even months beyond the legally permissible timeframe.
The lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court. The plaintiffs are asking for back pay for unpaid wages and liquidated damages equal to those unpaid amounts. They also seek interest on any unpaid compensation and reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and legal costs incurred during this action. Additionally, they demand an accurate accounting of all compensation owed to them under federal law.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys from Spivak Lipton LLP and McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP. Hope Pordy and Elizabeth Sprotzer from Spivak Lipton LLP are based in New York City, while Gregory K. McGillivary, Sara L. Faulman, and Rachel Lerner from McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP operate out of Washington D.C. The case is presided over by judges at the Southern District Court under Case ID 1:25-cv-09817.
Source: 125cv09817_Sharon_Bell_v_The_New_York_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
