<P> On 18 January 2016 Woolworths announced that it intended to "either sell or wind up" all its home improvement area, including the Masters hardware chain . Chairman Gordon Cairns said that it would take years to become profitable and that the ongoing losses could not be sustained . The windup will involve Woolworths buying back a 33.3 per cent interest in the venture, held by the Lowe's subsidiary WDR Delaware Corporation . As of 28 August 2016 all stores are due to cease trading on, or before, 11 December 2016 . </P> <P> Lowe's was involved in a small cluster of class action lawsuits that revolved around Lowe's employee payment system . The cases focused on a pay practice known as "variable rate overtime". Variable rate overtime has the effect of paying a decreasing overtime rate the more hours a person works in a week . The suits alleged that salaried managers who worked 40 to 50 hours per week were improperly compensated for that time . The variable rate overtime ended in the first quarter of 2006 . </P> <P> The first case was filed in October 2002 by employees of the Lowe's store in Shawnee, Kansas . In September 2005, the cases were certified as class action . Lowe's has four similar cases in New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio . The lawsuits for New York, Indiana, and Kansas resulted in an out - of - court settlement on September 22, 2006 . </P> <P> The lawsuit in Pennsylvania became a class - action lawsuit in June 2004, with 550 employees . The case in Ohio was filed by ten former Lowe's employees, in August 2004 . </P>

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