In employment law, what is a class action suit?

A class action suit is defined as a collective legal action brought by a group of individuals who share similar grievances against a defendant, typically an employer or corporation. This type of lawsuit allows a group of people who have experienced the same issue – such as discrimination, wage violations, or other employment-related claims – to combine their claims into a single action. This approach not only makes legal proceedings more efficient by reducing the court's burden but also enables individuals with relatively small claims to seek justice that they might not be able to pursue individually due to the cost or complexity of a lawsuit.

For example, if a group of employees claims they were denied overtime pay based on the same company policy, they can file a class action suit instead of each employee individually suing the employer. This amplifies their collective voice and increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome, as the employer has to address the issue on a larger scale. Since class action suits are grounded in the sharing of common legal or factual claims, they serve the dual purpose of promoting judicial economy and protecting the rights of individuals within the group.