Request Legal Help Now - Free

Advertisement
LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Judge Approves Terminix Overtime Pay Settlement

. By
San Francisco, CAA federal judge in San Francisco, California, recently approved a settlement worth $1.5 million in unpaid overtime to more than 1,200 termite inspectors in training for pest-control company Terminix, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the news source, US District Judge Susan Ilston agreed with the settlement after she initially rejected the company's claims that termite inspections are exempt from overtime because they fall under the category of sales activities.

While Terminix reportedly offers such inspections for free on a regular basis, Ilston stated in June that they should be considered services rather than sales or pitches. Typically, the company uses the inspections to offer follow-up services, which cost money, the news source said.

Under Ilston's ruling that the inspections are actually services, the workers are entitled to overtime pay for work exceeding eight hours per day or more than 40 hours in a week, according to California labor law.

The original lawsuit, which was filed by the employees in May 2008, claimed that the inspectors in training were subject to long hours, especially toward the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The workers claimed they did not receive the overtime, breaks or meal periods required under state law.

Facing the lawsuit from more than 1,200 workers, Terminix reportedly changed its worker policy in April 2010 to classify such trainees as eligible for overtime and other benefits, according to the news source. Each of the workers will reportedly receive approximately $800 under the settlement, with the remaining money going toward attorneys' fees and other costs.

While the trainees—who worked for the company in California between June 2004 and April 2010—will receive portions of the settlement, it has not yet been decided what, if any, overtime pay Terminix owes to some 1,800 licensed termite inspectors who were also employed during that period and conducted the inspections, the news source reported.

With this decision still pending, California labor laws could also soon be changing, as a new proposed bill would require overtime pay and breaks for domestic workers. According to television station KPSP, Assembly Bill 889—dubbed the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights—would require a 30-minute break after five hours of work for domestic work employees.

The bill was reportedly introduced by Coachella Valley Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez and fellow Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, the news source said.

READ ABOUT CALIFORNIA OVERTIME LAWSUITS

California Overtime Legal Help

If you or a loved one have suffered losses in this case, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to an employment law lawyer who may evaluate your California Overtime claim at no cost or obligation.

ADD YOUR COMMENT ON THIS STORY

Please read our comment guidelines before posting.


Note: Your name will be published with your comment.


Your email will only be used if a response is needed.

Are you the defendant or a subject matter expert on this topic with an opposing viewpoint? We'd love to hear your comments here as well, or if you'd like to contact us for an interview please submit your details here.


Click to learn more about LawyersandSettlements.com

Request Legal Help Now! - Free