Apple Hit With Overtime Suit

A former Apple employee has filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, complaining that the ultra hip computer maker forces its staffers to work long hours without overtime pay.

Kenyon Zahner says he routinely worked more than 40 hours per week at an Apple location in Florida but did not receive extra compensation required by state law for non-managerial employees.

"The defendant knowingly had the plaintiff work off the clock and did not pay the plaintiff overtime," Zahner's attorneys state in court papers filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Florida.

The allegations run counter to Apple's carefully cultivated image as a haven for open minded creative types. Apple's famous "Think Different" ad campaign once featured images of Indian spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, while a current campaign portrays the company as the cool alternative to Microsoft.

Apple has yet to file a formal response in the case.

The suit does not specify Zahner's role at Apple, or whether he worked at a corporate office or at an Apple Store retail outlet. It also provides little background information about Zahner. Internet records list a Mac technician named Kenyon Zahner who now appears to be resident in Costa Rica.

Zahner's attorneys claim they're unable to provide an exact count of the overtime hours for which they believe Zahner should be paid because Apple has retained control over his employment records. They're seeking unspecified damages on behalf of Zahner and other Apple employees in Florida who were allegedly cheated out of overtime pay.

Such lawsuits can prove pricey for tech vendors. IBM in 2006 settled similar claims for $65 million. Outsourcer Computer Sciences Corp. settled overtime litigation in 2005 for $24 million.