Celebrity status can’t override wage and overtime laws.

Juggling different job duties? Make sure your employer pays you your due wages.

Most of us are used to handling multiple work tasks at once and most of us perform these duties in typical 40-hour-workweeks. But many people are required to juggle a whole host of different tasks in one day, including being a personal chef, driver, buyer, nanny, and more. If you’ve ever worked as a personal assistant you understand the demands on one person to handle such varied work.

Some employers abuse employee’s time and demand that they stay on call 24/7, but refuse to pay them for that time. Some celebrities are brought to court over this and the latest lawsuit of this kind is against Tommy Lee, drummer and founding member of the band Mötley Crüe. A former assistant has exposed his boss’ dirty laundry and lists the job duties Lee had him doing, but claims he never paid him for.

Case in Point
Underpaid and overworked personal assistant sues Tommy Lee.

Michael Anthony Sullivan, a former personal assistant to Tommy Lee, claims he worked for the artist from 2005 to 2011, sometimes for 80 to 100 hours a week during tours, and that he was never compensated for his overtime hours. Additionally, he claims that Lee ruined his job prospects by bad-mouthing him to other potential employers.

Most celebrities cannot get through a day without their personal assistants. These jobs can involve an array of daily duties that take up much more time than a regular 8-hour-day or 40-hour-workweek. But even celebrities have to abide by the laws and this includes paying employees for all hours worked.

Personal assistant worked seven days a week.

Sullivan’s suit claims he worked for Lee as a non-exempt employee with duties including: procurer, Man Friday, chauffer, guide, bookkeeper, attendant, door-keeper, agent, butler, valet, attendant, cook, runner, shopper, nanny, bodyguard, maid, nurse and nursemaid. Statements from the suit claim that Sullivan was required to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without any days off and if Lee needed anything, Sullivan was expected to have his phone on hand and respond immediately. According to California’s wage and hour laws employees must have one day off in any 7-day workweek.

Assistant claims Lee made improper paycheck deductions.

According to the suit, Sullivan alleges that Lee made improper deductions from his paycheck. When Lee had Sullivan move into his home in order to better serve Lee, the celebrity drummer started deducting $1,000 per month for rent, including deducting payments for six months after Sullivan was no longer living at Lee’s home.

Many employers try to get away with making deductions from an employee’s check, sometimes for uniforms or for mistakes made at work. Laws vary in every state but generally if this is happening to you there could be other wage issues going on, too.

If your employer thinks he’s above the law, you can send us a contact form or call 888-449-2068 to have your case reviewed for free by our employment lawyers. You can also order our free book to learn what your employer doesn't want you to know about wage and overtime laws.

The Texas overtime lawyers at Kennedy Hodges represent workers nationwide and across Texas in:
Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Pasadena, Laredo, Sugar Land, Lubbock, Illinios, New York, Massachusetts, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Columbus, Charlotte, Detroit, and more.