Programmer Sues Vivendi Over Long Hours

Neil Aitken, a programmer working for Vivendi Universal Games’ Knowledge Adventure division, has filed a lawsuit against his employer, claiming that the company falsified timesheets to avoid paying overtime. Aitken is paid for a basic forty hour week, but claims that he and colleagues regularly work more than twelve hours a day without being paid overtime. Although many would consider such hours normal within the games industry they directly contravene California law, where employees who earn less than $44.63 an hour are entitled to be paid for their overtime on a time-and-a-half basis. Aitken’s most damning accusation is that his employers told staff to falsify timesheets for both weekdays and weekend work, in an attempt to circumvent the employment laws. He also claims that any attempt to ask for or claim overtime has been refused by the company. Vivendi Universal Games’ corporate policy is not to comment on any pending lawsuits or court cases and so representatives have refused to give a statement. Source: Reuters