U.S. Open umpires sue for overtime back pay
Four U.S. Open umpires recently sued the U.S. Tennis Association over wage and hour violations committed over the past six years.
The time and attendance regulations contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act dictate that non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours per week must receive time-and-a-half compensation for each extra hour clocked. According to the class action lawsuit, the approximately 300 umpires employed to preside over tournaments held between 2005 and 2011 were not paid in accordance with the regulations set by the FLSA.
"Umpires were paid based upon a schedule set and dictated by defendant … (and) regularly worked in excess of 40 hours per week but were not properly paid wages due them including but not limited to overtime for hours in excess of 40 hours per week," the suit alleges, as quoted by Bloomberg.
USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier defended the association, claiming that the umpires were treated fairly and correctly classified as independent contractors, Reuters reports.
The time and attendance regulations contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act dictate that non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours per week must receive time-and-a-half compensation for each extra hour clocked. According to the class action lawsuit, the approximately 300 umpires employed to preside over tournaments held between 2005 and 2011 were not paid in accordance with the regulations set by the FLSA.
"Umpires were paid based upon a schedule set and dictated by defendant … (and) regularly worked in excess of 40 hours per week but were not properly paid wages due them including but not limited to overtime for hours in excess of 40 hours per week," the suit alleges, as quoted by Bloomberg.
USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier defended the association, claiming that the umpires were treated fairly and correctly classified as independent contractors, Reuters reports.
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