Lawsuit Alleges Blackstone Violated Massachusetts Labor Law

Boston, MAThe Blackstone Group is the subject of a recent lawsuit that claims that the financial services company underpaid an administrative assistant in violation of Massachusetts labor law.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">Hope Smith of Cambridge filed suit against the New York-based institution for ordering her to work 45- to 50-hour workweeks at its Boston office from November 2007 through August 2009, for which she did not receive overtime pay. Smith had not previously complained because she believed her position to be exempt from the option of overtime pay, reports Reuters.

The lawsuit, filed with the US District Court in Boston late last month, claims that the lead administrative assistant title does not qualify as a managerial position, meaning that Smith - and all others who hold the same title at Blackstone offices across the country - are entitled to overtime pay.

Smith also contends that she was illegally demoted from her role in August of 2009 due to time constraints placed upon her by her pregnancy.

"While we cannot comment on specific litigation, Blackstone is committed to following the letter and the spirit of all applicable labor laws," a Blackstone spokesman told the news provider.