Opinion
3:08 MD 1932
2012-12-10
IRENE GRACE, Plaintiff, v. FAMILY DOLLAR STORES, INC., Defendant.
ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support (Doc. No. 331); Plaintiff's Response in Opposition (Doc. No. 444); Defendant's Reply (Doc. No. 467); and Defendant's Supplements to its Motions (Doc. No. 784). For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED.
Plaintiff's case comes before this Court as part of a proposed collective action. On September 6, 2007, this Court granted Defendant's Motion to Strike Collective Action Allegations. (3:06cv306, Doc. No. 78). On July 9, 2009, this Court granted Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment as to the named Plaintiff in this case, Irene Grace, and dismissed her from this action. (3:08md1932, Doc. No. 172). Ms. Grace appealed both orders to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals held that Ms. Grace was a manager, and therefore affirmed this Court's judgment in favor of Family Dollar Stores, Inc. See Grace v. Family Dollar Stores Inc., 637 F.3d 508 (4th Cir. 2011).
FACTS
To the extent Plaintiff makes any factual assertions based on the decision in Morgan v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc., the Court will disregard such assertions. The Court will also disregard exhibits based on the Morgan case. In Grace v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc., the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Ms. Grace's argument that the facts in Morgan and in her case were identical; similarly, this Court finds no basis to support the assumption that the facts between Plaintiff's case and the Morgan case are the same. See Grace v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc., 637 F.3d 508 (4th Cir. 2011) (finding that potential variations between store size, store inventory, and the individual responsibilities of managers, as well as differences in managers' performance of exempt and nonexempt duties and the supervisory activity of district managers, precluded Plaintiff's argument that the facts in Morgan and in her case were identical).
Plaintiff, Ethel Braswell Parker, began working at Family Dollar in or around February 2005. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 44.) Braswell was promoted to store manager in or around July 2005 in store 6615 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. (Id. at 44-45.) She was later transferred to store 6079 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Id. at 34, 47-48.) Braswell left Family Dollar in February 2007. (Id. at 34.) As of August 7, 2005, Braswell was paid a salary of approximately $650 per week. (Doc. No. 784, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 3.) On October 9, 2005, she received a pay increase to $700 per week. (Id.) On April 16, 2006, she received a pay increase to $750 per week, which she received throughout the remainder of her employment with Family Dollar. (Id.) Braswell earned bonuses of $272.55, $150.70, and $547.40 in 2006 (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 5), bonuses that were available to store managers based on their store's performance. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 78-79.) Braswell worked an average of 49.48 hours per week. (Doc. No. 784, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 4.)
The Court notes that Plaintiff's declaration was prepared after Plaintiff's deposition and on many occasions directly contradicts her sworn testimony. Plaintiff cannot create a dispute about a fact contained in deposition testimony by referring to a subsequent affidavit of the deponent contradicting the deponent's prior testimony, for "it is well established that a genuine issue of fact is not created where the only issue of fact is to determine which of the two conflicting versions of a party's testimony is correct." Erwin v. United States, 591 F.3d 313, 325 n.7 (4th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted) (quoting Halperin v. Abacus Tec. Corp., 128 F.3d 191, 198 (4th Cir. 1997); see also Waste Mgmt. Holdings, Inc. v. Gilmore, 252 F.3d 316, 341 (4th Cir. 2001); Rohrbough v. Wyeth Labs., 916 F.2d 970, 975-76 (4th Cir. 1990); Barwick v. Celotex Corp., 736 F.2d 946, 960 (4th Cir. 1984). To the extent that Plaintiff's deposition testimony and later affidavit are inconsistent, the Court will disregard the affidavit and rely on the testimony she gave in her deposition, where she was examined at length about her responsibilities as a manager of a Family Dollar store. See Grace, 637 F.3d at 513.
Braswell filed her opt-in consent form on January 25, 2007. Accordingly, January 25, 2004, or three years prior to her opt-in date, through the end of her employment in February 2007, represents the longest possible relevant time period for Braswell's claims in this action.
The court is aware that Plaintiff objects to the admissibility of Debrocq's declaration. An Order, however, dated August 10, 2011, by the undersigned, concluded that the declarations of Family Dollar employees regarding the "two full time employees or their equivalent" and "significant salary difference" prongs of the executive exemption were admissible. Plaintiffs failed to file a response to Family Dollar's supplemental briefing on this issue despite being given 30 days to do so by the court. (Doc. No. 566).
The record shows the hourly employees working with Braswell at store 6615, even using the highest wage for those employees whose wages changed over time, received an average hourly wage of $6.22 per hour. (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 7.) When Braswell worked at store 6079, the hourly employees made an average hourly wage of $6.82 per hour. (Id.) Family Dollar's records reflect that Braswell managed at least 80 employee hours 100% of the time she was a store manager during the relevant time period. (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 6.)
Braswell contends that she devoted the vast majority of her time to performing nonexempt work, but she was also responsible for the overall management of the store for the entire time she was in the store. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 135, 140, 142-43, 158.) Despite the fact that she may have been doing manual tasks, Braswell admits that she was simultaneously managing her store at all times. (Id. at 140-41, 224.) Braswell's managerial tasks included training or retraining employees (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 114-14. 206-07, 218, 228, 256), evaluating her employee's efficiency and performance (Id. at 125, 224-25), handling employee complaints (Id. at 208), and apportioning hours to employees (Id. at 167, 212) and were critical to the operation of the store. Braswell decided how to review employment applications (Id. at 109, 113, 189-90); how to adjust the schedule (Id. at 119-20, 122); how to direct and supervise the work among the employees and herself (Id. at 133, 136-37, 140, 142-43); how to maintain the safety and security of her employees and the store (Id. at 164-65); and how to control shrink (Id. at 73, 78-79, 174); while at the same time, satisfying customers.
With respect to her recommendations for hiring, Braswell testified that she was actively involved in the interviewing and employee screening process, she conducted reference checks, and ensured that background check authorization forms were completed. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 80-81, 105-06, 109, 113, 196-97, 263, 270-77.) She would then make recommendations to her district manager regarding who she would like to hire, recommendations that were often followed. (Id. at 189-94, 196, 199-201.) Braswell would also make recommendations for termination when an employee was not doing their job properly. (Id. at 150-54.) With respect to recommendations for change of status, Braswell testified that she made at least two recommendations to her district manager regarding promotional raises for employees, both of which were followed. (Id. at 233-34.)
As store manager, Braswell reported to a district manager. Braswell testified that her district manager would typically visit the store once every two weeks. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 86-87.) Family Dollar's records indicate that when Braswell was assigned to district 131 the district manager was responsible for approximately 21 stores. (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 4.) The district spanned approximately 143 miles. (Id.) When Braswell was assigned to district 39, Braswell's district manager was responsible for approximately 21 stores. (Id.) The district spanned approximately 88.5 miles. (Id.)
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is proper if "the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986). The moving party always bears the initial burden of "informing the district court of the basis for its motion," and identifying the matter "it believes demonstrate[s] the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. Once the movant has met the initial burden, "the non-moving party 'may not rest upon mere allegation or denials of his pleading, but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Hughes v. Bedsole, 48 F.3d 1376, 1381 (4th Cir. 1995) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256 (1986)). This is particularly important where the nonmoving party bears the burden of proof. Hughes, 48 F.3d at 1381. A genuine issue for trial exists "if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted. Id. at 249-50. The judge's inquiry, therefore, unavoidably asks whether reasonable jurors could find by a preponderance of the evidence that the plaintiff is entitled to a verdict.
When considering summary judgment motions, courts must view the facts in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Austin v. Clark Equip. Co., 48 F.3d 833, 835 (4th Cir. 1995). In reviewing the whole record, the Court must remember to "disregard all evidence favorable to the moving party that the jury is not required to believe" and therefore only "give credence to the evidence favoring the nonmovant as well as that evidence supporting the moving party that is uncontradicted and unimpeached, at least to the extent that [the] evidence comes from disinterested witnesses." Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 151 (2000).
DISCUSSION
The FLSA requires that an employee receive overtime pay if he or she works more than forty hours a week. 29 U.S.C. § 207(a)(1). The FLSA, however, exempts from this requirement "any employee employed in a bona fide executive...capacity." 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(1). The Department of Labor ("DOL") has promulgated regulations which further describe and interpret the scope of this exemption. Due to the time span of Braswell's claims, two different sets of DOL regulations apply to this analysis: the regulations in effect prior to August 23, 2004 (the "pre-2004 regulations"), and the regulations that went into effect on August 23, 2004 (the "current regulations").
The pre-2004 regulations set forth both a "short" and "long" test for determining whether an employee qualifies as an exempt executive. See 29 C.F.R. § 541.1 (pre-2004). The short test is used for employees who are compensated on a salary basis at a rate of at least $250 per week. 29 C.F.R. § 541.1(f) (pre-2004). Under the short test, an employee qualifies as an executive if (1) her primary duty consists of the management of the enterprise and (2) includes the customary and regular direction of the work of two or more other employees. 29 C.F.R. § 541.119(a) (pre-2004); 29 C.F.R. § 541.1(f) (pre-2004).
The "long" test found in the pre-2004 regulations includes six factors. Section 541.1(f) states clearly, however, that an employee who is compensated for her services on a salary basis of at least $250 per week and who satisfies the tests promulgated by sections 541.1(a)-(b) shall be deemed to meet all other requirements under that section. 29 C.F.R. § 541.1(f) (pre-2004).
Similarly, the current regulations provide that an employee qualifies as an executive if: (1) she is compensated on a salary basis at a rate of at least $455 per week; (2) her primary duty is management of the enterprise; (3) she customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more other employees; and (4) she has the authority to hire or fire other employees or whose suggestions and recommendations as to the hiring, firing, advancement, promotion or any other change of status of other employees are given particular weight. 29 C.F.R. § 541.100(a).
The DOL has also promulgated additional regulations which further describe and define these factors; the additional regulations are discussed below. Because Braswell's claim covers the period between January 25, 2004 and February 2007, it is governed, in differing degrees, by both the pre-2004 and the current regulations. The application of the different regulations, however, is not material to the outcome of this case.
1. Family Dollar Satisfies the Salary Basis Test
As of August 7, 2005, Braswell was paid a salary of approximately $650 per week. (Doc. No. 784, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 3.) On October 9, 2005, she received a pay increase to $700 per week. (Id.)On April 16, 2006, she received a pay increase to $750 per week, which she received throughout the remainder of her employment with Family Dollar. (Id.) Therefore, Family Dollar satisfies the salary basis test under both the pre-2004 regulations, which require a weekly salary of not less than $250 per week under the short test, and the current regulations, which require a weekly salary of not less than $455 per week. 29 C.F.R. § 541.1(f) (pre-2004); 29 C.F.R. § 541.100.
2. Family Dollar Satisfies the Primary Duty Test
The regulations provide guidance as to how an employee's primary duty may be determined. Both sets of regulations instruct that the determination should be "based on all the facts in a particular case." 29 C.F.R. § 541.103 (pre-2004). The pre-2004 regulations set forth five factors to consider in this analysis: (1) the amount of time spent in the performance of managerial duties; (2) the relative importance of the managerial duties as compared with other types of duties; (3) the frequency with which the employee exercises discretionary powers; (4) the relative freedom from supervision; and (5) the relationship between the manager's salary and the wages paid to other employees for the kind of nonexempt work performed by the supervisor. 29 C.F.R. § 541.103 (pre-2004).
The Court finds Braswell's argument that she was merely a "working foreman" unavailing. Under the pre-2004 regulations, the working foreman concept only applies to the "long test," which does not apply here. 29 C.F.R. § 541.115(a)-(b) (describing the concept in terms of the long test's limitation on the amount of nonexempt work). The current regulations state that a "manager in a retail establishment" can "supervise employees and serve customers at the same time without losing the exemption." 29 C.F.R. § 541.106(b) (emphasis added). Section 29 C.F.R. § 541.106(c) states "[i]n contrast," a "working supervisor" who performs "nonexempt work on the production line in a manufacturing plant does not become exempt" merely by occasionally directing the work of other nonexempt employees on the "production line." (emphasis added.)
The current regulations omit reference to the frequency with which the employee exercises discretionary powers. 29 C.F.R. § 541.700.
Upon consideration of the five factors identified for determining whether Braswell's primary duty was management, the Court concludes that the factors are readily satisfied.
a. The Amount of Time Spent in Performance of Managerial Duties
Braswell cannot overcome the exemption by claiming she spent the majority of her time performing non-managerial duties. Both sets of regulations state that an employee who spends more than fifty percent of his or her time performing managerial work will typically satisfy the primary duty requirement. 29 C.F.R. § 541.700(b); 29 C.F.R. § 541.103 (pre-2004). The regulations, however, also emphasize that "time alone...is not the sole test" and that exempt executives are not required to spend more than fifty percent of their time performing exempt work if other factors support the conclusion that management is their primary duty. Id; see also Grace, 637 F.3d at 515.
The Court disagrees with Braswell's contention that failure to meet the 50 percent threshold means that an employee fails to satisfy the primary duty requirement. The Fourth Circuit clarified the application of the 50 percent "rule of thumb" by stating that, "[i]t is clear from this language that primary duty is meant to be assessed by the totality of the circumstances." Counts v. S.C. Elec. & Gas Co., 317 F.3d 453, 456 (4th Cir. 2003). Braswell's reliance on Clark v. J.M. Benson Co., Inc., 789 F.2d 282 (4th Cir. 1986) is misplaced because the court held that it would apply the 50 percent rule to that specific case. (emphasis added.) Additionally, Braswell's reliance on Shockley v. City of Newport News, 997 F.2d 18 (4th Cir. 1993) is also misplaced because that case involved police officers, not retail store managers, who were not paid on a salary basis - something that is not at issue here.
Both sets of regulations provide an almost identical list of "management" activities, which include, but are not limited to:
Interviewing, selecting and training of employees; setting and adjusting their rates of pay and hours of work; directing their work; maintaining their production or sales records for use in supervision or control; appraising their productivity and efficiency for the purpose of recommending promotions or other changes in their status; handling their complaints and grievances and disciplining them when necessary; planning the work; determining the techniques to be used; apportioning the work among the workers; determining the type of materials, supplies, machinery or tools to be used or merchandise to be bought, stocked and sold; controlling the flow and distribution of materials or merchandise and supplies; providing for the safety of the [employees] and the property.29 C.F.R. § 541.102(b) (pre-2004). Braswell explicitly testified that she regularly performed many of these management activities as a Family Dollar store manager.
An employee need not perform all management duties listed in the regulations, or even regularly perform such duties, in order to be considered an exempt executive. See Aguirre v. SBC Communs., Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 72666 at * 63-62 (S.D. Tex. Sept. 30, 2007) (finding that "plaintiffs' 'primary duty' for purposes of the executive exemption was 'management,' despite the fact that the plaintiffs did not perform other 'managerial' duties listed in Section 541.102.").
The current regulations include two additional examples: planning and controlling the budget and monitoring or implementing legal compliance measures. 29 C.F.R. § 541.102.
The fact that the assistant managers can perform the same tasks as Braswell does not render her tasks and duties any less managerial. Courts have consistently held that the fact that a non-exempt employee may sometimes perform exempt duties does not make these duties any less exempt/managerial. See Baldwin v. Trailer Inns, Inc., 266 F.3d 1104, 1115 (9th Cir. 2001) ("[t]hat the [non-exempt] assistant managers may have performed some managerial tasks does not render the tasks non-exempt.").
The current regulations specifically address the concept of concurrent duties. 29 C.F.R. § 541.106. Concurrent performance, or multi-tasking, of exempt and nonexempt work is explicitly recognized as a managerial duty by the DOL's regulations. Id; see also 29 U.S.C.§ 213(a)(1). "It is misleading simply to add up the time that [Plaintiff] spent unloading trucks, stocking inventory, running cash registers, or sweeping floors and conclude thereby that she was merely a clerk and not a manager." Grace, 637 F.3d at 516.
The FLSA recognizes the nature of retail business and states that "an employee of a retail or service establishment shall not be excluded from the definition of an employee employed in a bona fide executive or administrative capacity because of the number of hours in her work week which he devotes to activities not directly or closely related to the performance of executive or administrative activities." 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(1).
In Grace, the Fourth Circuit found the plaintiff "was performing management duties whenever she was in the store, even though she also devoted most of her time [99%] to doing the mundane physical activities necessary for its successful operation." Id. at 517. Similar to the plaintiff in Grace, Braswell contends that she devoted the vast majority of her time to performing nonexempt work, but she was also responsible for the overall management of the store for the entire time she was in the store. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 135, 140, 142-43, 158.) Despite the fact that she may have been doing manual tasks, Braswell admits that she was simultaneously managing her store at all times. (Id. at 140-41, 224.) While Braswell argues that management was not her primary duty because she spent a majority of her time engaged in manual labor, the regulations and the court in Grace clarify that performance of these duties, in conjunction with overall supervision and management of the store, is not contrary to the application of the exemption.
b. The Relative Importance of the Managerial Duties as Compared with Other Types of Duties
Braswell's managerial duties were more important than the other duties she performed because they were critical to the operation of the store. In Grace, the plaintiff's managerial tasks, which included filling out paperwork, addressing customer complaints, working with employees on their schedules, and collecting cash, were critical to the operation of the store, as there was "no one else at the site to direct these actions." Grace, 637 F.3d at 517 (emphasis in the original). Similarly, Braswell's managerial tasks, which included training or retraining employees (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 114-14, 206-07, 218, 228, 256), evaluating her employee's efficiency and performance (Id. at 125, 224-25), handling employee complaints (Id. at 208), and apportioning hours to employees (Id. at 167, 212) were critical to the operation of the store. While Braswell argues that she was under the direct supervision of the district manager, she nonetheless stated that the district manager came to the store approximately once every two weeks - not frequently enough to direct the managerial tasks. (Id. at 86-87.) Therefore, the store could not have operated successfully without the managerial functions performed by Braswell.
c. Frequency With Which the Employee Exercises Discretionary Power
Braswell exercised discretion virtually every day and all day long in her capacity as store manager. Braswell decided how to review employment applications (Id. at 109, 113, 189-90); how to adjust the schedule (Id. at 119-20, 122); how to direct and supervise the work among the employees and herself (Id. at 133, 136-37, 140, 142-43); how to maintain the safety and security of her employees and the store (Id. at 164-65); and how to control shrink (Id. at 73, 78-79, 174); while at the same time, satisfying customers. All of these tasks involved "discretionary acts inherent in being responsible for the successful operation of a retail store." Grace, 637 F.3d at 517. Moreover, although Family Dollar maintains certain policies and procedures for the sake of consistency, Braswell exercised discretion in deciding how to execute these policies and procedures.
See Murray v. Stuckey's, Inc., 50 F.3d 564, 570 (8th Cir. 1995) (Murray II) (standardized procedures and policies may circumscribe but do not eliminate discretion of on-site store managers); Thomas v. Speedway SuperAmerica LLC, 506 F.3d, 496, 507 (6th Cir. 2007) (manager still exercised discretion on a daily basis even though store had standardized operating procedures); Grace, 637 F.3d at 516 (manager still exercised discretion even though she was subject to company policies and the company template for a store in the Family Dollar chain).
d. Relative Freedom from Supervision
Relative freedom from supervision does not demand compete freedom from supervision. In Grace, the plaintiff's supervising district manager typically visited the store once every two to three weeks. Grace, 637 F.3d at 517. The court also noted, apart from her supervision, which was not uncharacteristic for any retail operation, the district manager was not a "micro-manager who constantly was looking over [the manager's] shoulder." Id. The supervision of seventeen stores would hardly permit [the district manager] to micro-manage all of them. Id. Moreover, courts have found that an employee's "frequent, even daily exchange of e-mail and phone communications with her district manager" did not equate to exacting supervision. Thomas, 506 F.3d at 508.
Braswell was relatively free from supervision during the relevant time period. Braswell testified that her district manager would typically visit the store once every two weeks. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 86-87.) The infrequency of the district manager's visits does not equate to exacting supervision. See Thomas, 506 F.3d at 508.
Additionally, Family Dollar's records indicate that when Braswell was assigned to district 131 the district manager was responsible for approximately 21 stores. (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 4.) The district spanned approximately 143 miles. (Id.) When Braswell was assigned to district 39 Braswell's district manager was responsible for approximately 21 stores. (Id.) The district spanned approximately 88.5 miles. (Id.) The large territory and number of stores the district manager was responsible for supervising did not allow him to micro-manage each individual store. See Grace, 637 F.3d at 517.
e. Relationship Between Salary and Wages Paid to Other Employees for the Kind of Nonexempt Work Performed by the Supervisor
To determine the relationship between a managerial salary and wages paid to nonmanagerial employees, the Fourth Circuit considered, first, whether the manager earned more, in absolute terms, than nonmanagerial employees and, second, whether the manager was a "profit center." Id. at 517. This second consideration asks whether the manager had the ability to influence the amount of her compensation. Id.
As to the first consideration, Braswell earned significantly higher amounts on an hourly basis than nonexempt workers. The record shows the hourly employees working with Braswell at store 6615, even using the highest wage for those employees whose wages changed over time, received an average hourly wage of $6.22 per hour. (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 7.) When Braswell worked at store 6079, the hourly employees made an average hourly wage of $6.82 per hour. (Id.)In comparison, Braswell worked an average of 49.48 hours per week. (Doc. No. 784, DeBrocq Decl.¶ 4.) Braswell earned compensation which, when computed on an hourly basis, averaged between $13.14 per hour ($650 per week), $14.15 per hour ($700 per week), and $15.16 per hour ($750 per week).
As to the second consideration, Braswell was a "profit center;" her performance evaluation, salary, and bonus depended on her store's profitability. See Grace, 637 F.3d at 517. Braswell earned bonuses of $272.55, $150.70, and $547.40 in 2006 (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 5), bonuses that were available to store managers based on their store's performance. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 78-79.) A review of these calculations and comparisons reveal a significant difference in wages between Braswell and her nonexempt employees.
3. Customary and Regular Direction of the Work of Two or More other Employees
To qualify as an executive, the regulations require an employee's primary duty to include the "customary and regular direction of the work of two or more other employees." 29 C.F.R. § 541.119(a) (pre-2004); 29 C.F.R. § 541.100(a)(3). The pre-2004 regulations do not further define the terms "customary and regular," but the current regulations state that the phrase "means a frequency that must be greater than occasional but which, of course, may be less than constant." 29 C.F.R. § 541.701. The DOL has adopted an "80-hour rule" which generally requires an exempt executive to direct a total of eighty employee-hours of work each week. See 69 Fed.Reg. 22135; see also Grace, 637 F.3d at 513 (holding that Grace customarily and regularly directed the work of two or more other employees who worked eighty or more hours per week during 89.23% of the weeks that she was store manager). Family Dollar's records reflect that Braswell managed at least 80 employee hours 100% of the time she was a store manager during the relevant time period. (Doc. No. 332, DeBrocq Decl. ¶ 6.) Therefore, Braswell customarily and regularly directed the work of at least two full-time employees and satisfies this factor.
4. Authority to hire or fire other employees or whose suggestions and recommendations as to the hiring, firing, advancement, promotion or any other change of status of other employees are given particular weight
Finally, the additional prong of the executive exemption test contained in the current regulations states that an exempt employee has authority to hire or fire other employees or her recommendations as to the hiring, firing, advancement, promotion, or any other change of status of other employees are given particular weight. 29 C.F.R. § 541.100(a)(4) (emphasis added). The DOL provides guidance with respect to whether an employee's recommendations satisfy this standard. Specifically, the "factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, whether it is part of the employee's job duties to make such suggestions and recommendations; the frequency with which such suggestions and recommendations are made or requested; and the frequency with which the employee's suggestions and recommendations are relied upon." 29 C.F.R. § 541.105. Importantly, the employee's recommendations "may still be deemed to have 'particular weight' even if a higher level manager's recommendation has more importance and even if the employee does not have the authority to make the ultimate decision as to the employee's change in status." Id.
See Davis v. Family Dollar Stores, No. 3:03-0170 (D.S.C. Sept. 28, 2004) ("the record shows that plaintiff had considerable influence in the hiring and firing of employees in her store even though they ultimately had to be approved by higher management"); Lovelady v. Allsup's Convenience Stores, Inc., 304 Fed.Appx. 301, 305-06 (5th Cir. 2008) (managers who did not have ultimate authority still satisfied test where they made recommendations which were almost always followed); Grace, 637 F.3d at 514 (manager's suggestions regarding the hiring of employees were given significant weight when the district manager followed those recommendations 95% of the time).
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Braswell's recommendations for hiring, firing, and change of status were given particular weight. With respect to her recommendations for hiring, Braswell testified that she was actively involved in the interviewing and employee screening process, she conducted reference checks, and ensured that background check authorization forms were completed. (Doc. No. 332, Braswell Dep. at 80-81, 105-06, 109, 113, 196-97, 263, 270-77.) She would then make recommendations to her district manager regarding who she would like to hire, recommendations that were often followed. (Id. at 189-94, 196, 199-201.) Braswell would also make recommendations for termination when an employee was not doing their job properly. (Id. at 150-54.) With respect to recommendations for change of status, Braswell testified that she made at least two recommendations to her district manager regarding promotional raises for employees, both of which were followed. (Id. at 233-34.) Therefore, Braswell's recommendations for hiring, firing, and change of status were given particular weight and each independently satisfies this factor.
CONCLUSION
Looking at the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, the Court finds that Family Dollar has satisfied the DOL regulations qualifying Braswell as an exempt executive under the FLSA. No reasonable jury could find otherwise. Therefore, Family Dollar is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that: (1) Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc No. 331) is GRANTED and Plaintiff Ethel Braswell Parker is dismissed; (2) The Court finds that there is no just reason to delay finding of final judgment for Family Dollar with regard to Plaintiff Ethel Braswell Parker's claim against Family Dollar; (3) The Clerk is directed to enter final judgment, pursuant to Rule 54(b), for Family Dollar with regard to Plaintiff Ethel Braswell Parker.
SO ORDERED.
______________
Graham C. Mullen
United States District Judge
Irene Grace, Plaintiff(s),
vs.
Family Dollar Stores Inc, Defendant(s).
JUDGEMENT IN CASE
3:08MD1932
DECISION BY COURT. This action having come from the court by Motion and a decision having been rendered; IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Judgment is hereby entered in accordance with the Court's Monday, December 10, 2012 Order.
_________________
Frank G. Johns, Clerk
United States District Court