Abbott sued by drug reps on overtime pay
Abbot Sued By Drug Reps on Overtime Pay
A lawsuit against Chicago's Abbott Laboratories is covered by the Chicago Tribune (June 29, 2007). The claim is part of a series of lawsuits alleging that pharmaceutical sales representatives from many companies were denied millions in overtime pay. Partner Charles Joseph told the newspaper that the representatives were improperly classified as salespeople exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act, noting that they rarely sold anything. The drug reps, who are charged with convincing doctors to prescribe their employers' drugs, alleged that they worked as much as 12 to 18 hours a day.