A new lawsuit accuses Apple of failing to pay its employees proper wages for overtime work, alleging the Mac-maker demanded its employees put in more than 40 hours per week without proper compensation.
Filed in a U.S. District Court in Miami, Fla., this week, the class-action suit, on behalf of former Apple employee Kenyon Zahner and other unnamed plaintiffs, claims that the employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, and that the employees are entitled to compensation for their unpaid overtime.
"During Plaintiff's employment, Defendant (Apple) required Plaintiff (Zahner), a non-exempt employee under the FLSA, and others similarly situated, to work in excess of forty (40) hours per work-week, and willfully refused to compensate Plaintiff, and others similarly situated, for all such work pursuant to the FLSA," the suit reads.
The four-page lawsuit offers minimal details on Zahner or his role in Apple. It does not mention whether he worked at an Apple Store or elsewhere, or what he did for the company. It simply says that Zahner is a former employee of Apple in Florida. The company yet has not filed a response with the court.
Zahner and his co-plaintiffs were unable to produce the exact amount of overtime they believe they are owed. The suit alleges that the hours worked by the employees are in the "exclusive possession and sole custody and control" of Apple. The court filing states that the employees are entitled to time-and-a-half pay for their overtime work.
"The Plaintiff, however, will exert diligent efforts to obtain such information by appropriate discovery proceedings, to be taken promptly in this case," the suit reads.
The suit asks for compensation according to the FLSA, including liquidated damages and coverage of attorney costs and court fees. The plaintiffs have requested a trial by jury. The suit was filed Monday in a Broward County, Fla., court.