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Ex-temp files for class action against Robert Half for interview time

April 24, 2014

A former temporary employee at Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI) is suing the staffing firm for time spent preparing or interviewing for temporary and permanent employment opportunities, according to court records.

The named plaintiff in the case is Leonor Rodriguez, and the plaintiff is seeking class-action status to represent all current and former Robert Half employees in California since March 13, 2010. Claims in the case are not expected to exceed $5.0 million.

Rodriguez worked for Robert Half’s Accountemps division as a temporary employee for Wells Fargo in the San Diego area. Her assignment ended on Oct. 16, 2013.

Among the allegations, Rodriguez was required to interview for a position at Wells Fargo with the interview lasting an hour, according to court documents. Rodriguez was also required to travel two to two-and-a-half hours to have her fingerprints taken for a background check. Court records say she wasn’t compensated for the time in either instance.

“Upon information and belief, Rodriguez was required to be available for job interviews or perform job preparation tasks, like having her fingerprints taken,” according to a complaint in the case. “If she chose not to attend interviews and perform certain job preparation tasks, then she would have been precluded from other job assignment opportunities with Robert Half.”

Robert Half reported the case in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and reported it wasn’t feasible to predict the outcome of the suit or range of loss should a loss occur. “The company believes it has meritorious defenses to the allegations and the company intends to vigorously defend against the litigation,” according to the filing.

The suit was filed on March 13 in state court in San Diego County.