Ricoh Hit With Class Action Suit Over Unpaid Worker Expenses

October 2, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Ricoh Americas Corp. was hit with a class action suit alleging the company failed to reimburse employees for work-related expenses, reports Law360. 
 
According to the article, the suit was made by Parhum Zadeh on behalf of himself and other current and former account executives of Ricoh and its subsidiary Ikon Office Solutions Inc.



Zadeh alleges Ricoh violated numerous provisions of California’s labor code by failing to pay for expenses incurred on the job over a course of at least four years, including the cost of using personal vehicles for company business, parking expenses, and the use of personal mobile phones for business purposes, according to the complaint. Any reimbursement for expenses that was given to employees was insufficient or was illegally taxed, the suit says.



The suit also alleges Ricoh failed to pay workers their wages immediately after being fired or within 72 hours after they quit, as required by law.

Zadeh seeks to represent the class of all current and former Ricoh and Ikon account executives who were employed by the company during the past four years, according to the suit. In addition to illegal withholding of expenses, the suit alleges violation of state law requiring all wages to be paid at least twice a month. Zadeh also accuses Ricoh of providing inaccurate wage statements and unfair business practices in violation of California’s Business and Professions Code, which constitutes unfair competition, the suit says

The suit is seeking reimbursement of all necessary expenditures plus interest, compensatory damages, penalties and restitution for unfair competition including disgorgement of profits.



The case is Parhum Zadeh v. Ikon Office Solutions Inc. et al., Calif., No. BC470371.

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