A putative class action filed today in U.S. District Court for Connecticut charges insurance powerhouse MetLife Inc. with withholding more than $50 million in overtime pay to claims specialists since late 2013.

The suit, filed on behalf of a former MetLife long term disability claim specialist, said the company reclassified all such workers as "exempt" from overtime pay regulations required under federal and Connecticut law. According to the complaint, plaintiff Stephanie McKinney routinely worked between 10 and 20 hours of overtime weekly until she left the company last July, often from home at night and on weekends.

Until late 2013, both long term disability and short term disability specialists were classified as non-exempt and paid overtime compensation, the suit states. "Accordingly, MetLife was fully aware that LTD claim specialists commonly worked over 40 hours per week."

McKinney v. MetLife, 17-173, was filed by Milford solo Daniel Schneider and a team of lawyers with New York's Sanford Heisler including Jeremy Heisler, Andrew Melzer, Michael Palmer and David Tracey.

In a statement, Heisler termed MetLife's actions "impermissible."

"Employers can't shirk their overtime obligations by simply 'reclassifying' hourly employees," said Heisler.

MetLife's vice president for finance and investment, John Calagna, said via email that the insurer has not had time to review the complaint and would have no comment.

The complaint said MetLife reported $5.2 billion in net income in 2015.

Instant Insights /

MetLife hit with $50M class action alleging unpaid overtime

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