ducks
05-28-2005, 07:20 PM
Hornets sued for alleged overtime violations
By BRETT MARTEL, Associated Press Writer
May 27, 2005
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Eight former New Orleans Hornets employees filed a lawsuit Friday alleging that the team had a practice of requiring people to work overtime without being paid for the extra hours, a violation of federal labor law.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, alleges that the Hornets violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by requiring employees to work more than 40 hours, including extra hours in the office, at public functions, during games and at home.
The lawsuit alleges that while the team failed to track hours or offer extra pay, employees ``were admonished, suffered retaliatory action, and were otherwise treated with disfavor by Hornets officers, directors or managers if they did not work overtime.''
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The lawsuit also alleges that managers in the team's business office told employees they could lose their jobs if they did not show a willingness to work beyond normal business hours on a regular basis.
The team did not immediately return a call seeking comment, and a lawyer for the team said he had not seen the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed as a collective action, meaning any current or former employee who decides to make similar claims can join.
The lawsuit also claims that some managers, only one of whom was named, threatened to fire and provide poor references for any current employee who attempts to collect overtime pay by legal means.
By BRETT MARTEL, Associated Press Writer
May 27, 2005
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Eight former New Orleans Hornets employees filed a lawsuit Friday alleging that the team had a practice of requiring people to work overtime without being paid for the extra hours, a violation of federal labor law.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, alleges that the Hornets violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by requiring employees to work more than 40 hours, including extra hours in the office, at public functions, during games and at home.
The lawsuit alleges that while the team failed to track hours or offer extra pay, employees ``were admonished, suffered retaliatory action, and were otherwise treated with disfavor by Hornets officers, directors or managers if they did not work overtime.''
ADVERTISEMENT
The lawsuit also alleges that managers in the team's business office told employees they could lose their jobs if they did not show a willingness to work beyond normal business hours on a regular basis.
The team did not immediately return a call seeking comment, and a lawyer for the team said he had not seen the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed as a collective action, meaning any current or former employee who decides to make similar claims can join.
The lawsuit also claims that some managers, only one of whom was named, threatened to fire and provide poor references for any current employee who attempts to collect overtime pay by legal means.