14 DAY TRIAL // A number of “Apple Geniuses” (a position within every Apple retail store establishment) have filed a class action lawsuit against the Cupertino, California-based Mac maker seeking compensation for not receiving statutory rest periods and overall poor treatment.
Geniuses, as Apple fans know well, work at what is called the “Genius Bar,” a tech support station located inside every Apple retail store. The purpose of the Genius Bar is to offer help and support for Apple products. In order to become Geniuses, employees are trained and certified as experts.
At this final point in their training, they can take up the role of helping customers with Apple hardware and software. Also handled by Geniuses (formerly known as Mac Geniuses) are all in-store repairs of Apple products. Ron Johnson, senior vice president of retail at Apple, has often referred to the Genius Bar as the “heart and soul of our stores.”
The case in question is summarized at appleemploymentclassaction.com, where it is revealed that, “Representative plaintiff Steve Camuti, on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a Complaint in San Francisco County Superior Court on September 15, 2009. The lawsuit is on behalf of all persons employed in non-exempt (hourly paid) ‘Genius’ positions in California.”
“It alleges that Apple denied those employees rest breaks without paying wages for that time in violation of California law. The proposed plaintiff class seeks to recover unpaid wages, penalties, an injunction and other equitable relief and fees and costs for the period of September 15, 2005 through the present,” the summary reads.
According to a report by 9to5mac, at issue are claims that Apple “denied employees statutory mandated rest periods; willfully failed to compensate employees for missed rest periods; failed to pay compensation in a prompt and timely manner to former employees; and failed to provide accurate semimonthly itemized wage statements.”