A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent window and door company, alleging violations of labor laws. Dale Wrazen initiated the complaint in the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on November 19, 2024, targeting Reece Builders East Coast Division, LLC, doing business as Reece Windows and Doors.
Dale Wrazen's lawsuit centers around accusations that his former employer failed to compensate him adequately for overtime work. According to the complaint, Wrazen worked as a Measure Technician from September 26, 2021, until July 12, 2024. During this period, he claims to have routinely worked between 60 and 70 hours per week without receiving the legally mandated overtime pay of one and one-half times his regular hourly rate of $20 per hour. The plaintiff alleges that his uncompensated overtime amounted to approximately 1,300 hours over his tenure with the company.
Wrazen contends that his duties included not only on-site measurements but also extensive travel between job sites using a company vehicle and gas card. Despite these responsibilities extending beyond standard working hours and often into weekends—where he reportedly worked at least 42 Saturdays—he asserts that he was not compensated for this additional time. Furthermore, Wrazen highlights administrative tasks performed from home as contributing to his excessive workload.
In December 2022, after requesting a raise due to these extra hours and being denied by management with instructions not to ask again, Wrazen notes that the company introduced a "merit bonus" program in January 2023. This program allegedly served as an alternative to proper overtime compensation. He received monthly bonuses ranging from $1,300 to $1,400 based on installations completed in the prior month. A text message from Production Manager Tom purportedly indicated that these bonuses were intended "so we don’t have to pay your overtime."
The complaint accuses Reece Builders East Coast Division of willfully violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to maintain accurate records of Wrazen's work hours and pay. It further alleges that the company's actions demonstrated reckless disregard for FLSA provisions.
Wrazen seeks several forms of relief through this legal action: judgment against Reece Builders for unpaid back wages at the applicable overtime rate; acknowledgment of willful FLSA violations; liquidated damages equal to unpaid overtime; prejudgment interest if liquidated damages are not awarded; declaratory judgment declaring unlawful practices; coverage of all costs and attorney’s fees incurred during litigation; and any other equitable relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Dale Wrazen is Ashwin R. Trehan from Wenzel Fenton Cabassa P.A., while no specific attorneys or law firms are listed for Reece Builders East Coast Division in this document. The case is identified under Case Number: 24-005074-CI.