Temps win case against Microsoft
By
Deirdre Griswold
Thousands of temporary workers for Microsoft Corp. have won
benefits in a class action suit against the software giant. The
ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals may also be the
basis for many more temp workers in other companies in the
Western region served by the court to claim the same benefits
as regular staffers.
Many technology companies hire temporary workers and
independent contractors to avoid paying benefits. But the court
has now ruled that these workers are "common law employees" and
thus are entitled to the same benefits packages as other
workers.
Microsoft is appealing the ruling to the Supreme Court.
The ruling applies not only to so-called "perma-temps" who
have long-term assignments with the company, some lasting
years, but to all common law employees from 1986 to the
present. Over 10,000 past and present workers may be eligible
for damages based on stock options they should have received
years ago.
This case could have enormous repercussions in an economy
where Manpower Inc., a temp agency, is now the largest employer
in the country. Much of the increase in people without health
insurance is due to the spread of temporary work. Other
benefits often withheld from temps are vacation and sick time,
holiday pay, overtime pay and pensions.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page