Sirius XM Radio to pay $1.3M to settle suit over unpaid internships

Whether you are going to a forty an hour a week job that you have been employed in for many years or whether you are working at an internship for maybe a little pay and some more experience the Fair Labor Standards Act and minimum wage laws still need to be followed. Unfortunately, many companies and businesses find ways around paying their employees what they deserve and what they should be paid by law by not properly logging the hours they work, telling them to take parts while not on the clock or classifying improperly so they are exempt from overtime pay laws and requirements. If you or someone you work with feel that you have been improperly paid the wage you earned or were not paid properly for overtime hours, then you should speak to a Tennessee employment and overtime pay lawyer with the Higgins Firm. We will work with you to see to it that you get the compensation you deserve for the hard work you have done.

According to this lawsuit, the plaintiffs worked as much as forty hours a week for free on programs like the Howard Stern Show and other Sirius programs. This was a violation of their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state minimum wage laws. The company stated that it still believes its internships were legal, but settled to avoid costly litigation according to reports. Representatives for either side of the lawsuit were not available for comments.

This proposed settlement comes a month after the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals discussed the applicable test to determine whether unpaid internships are legal in lawsuits against Fox Searchlight Pictures Inc. and Fox Entertainment Group Inc. In this case involving unpaid internships, Sirius XM Radio Inc. has agreed to pay as much as $1.3 million to settle litigation by some 1,800 ex-interns. The Sirius settlement must still be approved by a judge before it is finalized.

Unfortunately, many businesses often find ways around paying their employees what they are entitled to under the law. They may ask employees to clock out early and still do work, they may ask them to take an unpaid lunch hour, they may give them a title they feel makes them exempt from overtime pay and minimum wage requirements such as referring to them as an independent contractor, executive, manager or administrator, or they may not pay them for work related tasks such as meetings, sending e-mails, running errands for the company or returning phone calls. Whatever the reason may be, companies and businesses are under a legal obligation to pay their employees fair wages and overtime pay for hours they work in a single work week and for any hours that they may work over forty in one week. If you or someone you know feels like you have been denied the pay that is rightfully yours by law then you should contact one of our experienced and knowledgeable Tennessee employment and minimum wage lawyers at the Higgins Firm. We care about our clients and understand how important your pay is to you and to your families. We will review your case, answer any questions you may have and make sure you get the compensation you need for this violation of your rights. We will also fight on your behalf to make sure these companies are held responsible for their actions and for any violations.

Please contact us today online or by calling 800.705.2121 to discuss any questions you may have as well as your legal options.