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Westchester Holiday Shop Stiffs Employees On OT Pay, Reports Say

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – A former salesman at American Christmas Inc. in Westchester is suing the holiday display business, claiming he was cheated out of overtime pay, according to media reports.

American Christmas Inc., a Mount Vernon-based holiday decoration business with clients such as Saks and Radio City Music Hall, is being sued by an ex-worker who claims to have been stiffed on overtime pay.

American Christmas Inc., a Mount Vernon-based holiday decoration business with clients such as Saks and Radio City Music Hall, is being sued by an ex-worker who claims to have been stiffed on overtime pay.

Photo Credit: Google maps screen shot

George Tower’s lawsuit states he worked for the Mount Vernon-based company for a year and was never paid overtime for the 50- and 70-hour weeks he put during the regular and peak seasons, respectively, a report by the Daily News said.

According to the Daily News, the company, which was founded in 1968, has 30 full-time and 120 seasonal workers and makes $12 million a year.

Declaring on Glassdoor.com, “We make the magic,” the company said its displays and designs “dazzle shoppers and visitors at the most famous retailers and landmark buildings across America.” 

Among their clients are, according to the Daily News, Saks, Cartier, Radio City Music Hall and the Empire State Building.

(Glassdoor is a jobs and recruiting site that offers subscribers a database of company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, office photos, and so forth.)

The Daily News also reported that Tower -- who earned $85,000 a year plus a 3 percent sales commission -- admits in court papers that the employee manual clearly lays out the company’s no-overtime policy, but, his lawyer argues, federal law mandates overtime pay for salaried folks who work more than 40 hours a week.

The New York Post, which reported that Tower made $100,000 a year, said the suit was asking for unspecified damages.

Frederic Schwam, American Christmas's CEO, told the New York Post that he was not aware of the lawsuit and refused to comment.

To read the Daily News story, click here.

To read the New York Post story, click here.

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