Sales reps sue drug giants on overtime pay
Sales reps sue drug giants on overtime pay
United Press International (Nov. 30, 2006) is first to cover the series of lawsuits brought by Joseph, Herzfeld, Hester & Kirschenbaum partner Charles Joseph, alleging that major pharmaceutical companies incorrectly classified hundreds of their employees as salespeople. This allowed them to deny the employees overtime pay, which saved them millions of dollars because the representatives routinely worked 50 to 70 hours a week and were expected to make their pitches to doctors at evening and weekend events. Because pharmaceutical representatives don't sell the drugs, the suits said, the salespeople classification is inappropriate and the pharmaceutical companies are in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and multiple state laws requiring overtime.