Reports have surfaced that at-home telephone representatives working for Hyatt Reservation Centers in the United States may be the latest victims of call center wage abuse.
These hourly, home-based employees field customer requests and inquiries, address and process complaints, and offer hotel information using company-provided computer systems and software. Work guidelines and pay practices involving the use of those systems and applications, however, may run afoul of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state labor laws.
Hyatt reservation agents who suspect the worldwide hotel giant has violated the FLSA claim the company requires that they:
- Boot up computer systems, log into applications, and download work instructions before starting their shifts;
- Wait on hold with technical support when disconnected from computer systems and networks;
- Shut down applications and computers after ending their shifts; and
- Read work-related emails before and after their shifts.
These examples of unpaid “off the clock” tasks often make up a significant amount of time, sometimes several minutes each day – time that exceeds the 40-hour workweek and for which employees must be paid overtime at 150% their regular rate.
The attorneys in Sommers Schwartz Employment Litigation Group are currently interviewing individuals who worked as Hyatt reservation agents about possible unpaid wages and overtime pay. If you worked for Hyatt in this capacity or have information that can help, please contact us today!
Kevin J. Stoops
Kevin Stoops is an experienced trial attorney who appears frequently in Michigan state courts and federal courts across the United States, representing clients in complex business litigation. He has vast experience and a track record of successful outcomes high-dollar matters involving trade secret, business tort, intellectual property, executive employment, and class action claims.
