Employees sue Apple for failing to pay for overtime
updated 06:45 pm EDT, Thu August 6, 2009
Employees sue Apple
Apple has become involved in yet another lawsuit, as a former employee, Kenyon Zahner, claims to have been forced to work over 40 hours a week without additional compensation, according to InformationWeek. The worker has filed a class action lawsuit with other Apple employees in Florida, although details of his role at the company remain unclear.
"The defendant knowingly had the plaintiff work off the clock and did not pay the plaintiff overtime," the filing reads. The employee is unable to determine the number of uncompensated hours. Apple is accused of retaining documents and information regarding Zahner's employment record with the company.
The company has been referenced in a variety of reports regarding conditions at overseas factories. Although foreign companies own the manufacturing facilities, Apple has been criticized for not enforcing its ethics standards. Apple has worked to improve its image, doubling the number of audits from last year. The company also provides training regarding workers rights to thousands of supplier employees and managers.
A Foxconn employee working in China recently committed suicide after losing an iPhone prototype. Following questions regarding security methods, the supplier admitted to interrogations that may have utilized solitary confinement, home searches or possibly even beatings.
Zahner is seeking unspecified damages to compensate for unpaid overtime. Apple has not yet responded to the allegations.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2008
huh?
'"The employee is unable to determine the number of uncompensated hours."'
The article failed to mention the employees position. The inability to do something as simple and commonplace as "document hours" would seem to suggest that the employee was hired as simple unskilled and uneducated labor. If Apple did indeed take advantage of someone like this, then Shame on Apple!