"No matter how long we worked each day, they only paid us for our scheduled shift. I spent part of each week working for free," Mr. Amick said.

According to the Complaint, call center workers frequently had to work on their lunch hours to catch up on paper-work. If a call continues into a lunch period, they are required by to continue servicing the customer's telephone call. In addition, workers were not supposed to clock in before they had started a computer and reviewed the day's technical notices and often had to continue working after their shift ended.

The Complaint alleges that American Express Travel violated the wage and hour laws by failing to pay its telephone customer service workers for time they worked before the start of their regularly scheduled shifts, time that they worked during their unpaid lunch breaks, time that they worked after the end of their regularly scheduled shifts, and failed to include all compensation in calculating the regular rate for overtime premium pay.

Attorneys Adam T. Klein (http://www.outtengolden.com/firm/team/partners/adam-klein/) and Molly A. Brooks (http://www.outtengolden.com/firm/team/attorneys/molly-brooks/) of Outten & Golden LLP's (http://www.outtengolden.com/) New York office and Ilan Chorowsky of the Progressive Law Group LLC (http://www.progressivelaw.com/) represent the call center workers and will seek certification of the case as a class action. The case could include up to 1,500 workers at American Express Travel call centers in North Carolina, Utah, Florida, and Arizona.

Attorney Ilan Chorowsky stated that the practice violates the law. "Regardless of what company representatives may have told workers, companies like American Express Travel are obligated under federal and state laws to pay workers for all the time they work, not just for their scheduled shifts," he said.

Attorney Adam T. Klein stated, "Companies should make it a top priority to ensure that its workers are being paid everything they are owed for work well done. Unfortunately, it is a common practice in call centers across the country to require workers to put in time before and after their shifts without pay. "

Attorney Molly A. Brooks added, "Call center employees more than earn their pay in a work environment that is typically highly stressful and low paying. We are investigating the overtime practices at other American Express call centers."

American Express Travel is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express, which has billions in assets and is headquartered in New York City.

The case is "Ashley Amick v. American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc." No. 09-cv- 9780 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

ATTORNEY CONTACTS: Current or former American Express Travel call center employees who wish to learn more about the case can contact attorneys Adam T. Klein or Molly A. Brooks at Outten & Golden LLP, (877) 468-8836; or attorney Ilan Chorowsky at Progressive Law Group LLC, (312) 787-2717.

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/americanexpress/lawsuit/prweb3259484.htm.

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Unlike other universal or "general purpose" gift cards, the American Express Gift Card is fee-free after purchase. There are no fees for checking a balance, no fees for monthly servicing, and no fees for card replacement, plus the funds on the cards never expire. American Express is the only major issuer of universal or "general purpose" gift cards to eliminate all fees after purchase in Canada.

"With the launch of the American Express Gift Card in Canada we are setting a new standard among gift cards," said Howard Grosfield, Vice-President at American Express Canada. "Canadians can now give recipients gift cards that are 100 per cent gift, zero per cent fees."

Available for purchase at more than 1000 Shoppers Drug Mart stores across the country, the cards are a game-changer for the Canadian gift card market this season by ensuring that consumers no longer need to worry about their gift cards losing value if they don't use them quickly.

The American Express Gift Card lets the recipient choose from millions of products and experiences in Canada, making it the ideal solution for the coming holiday season. The American Express Gift Card is available in $50, $100 and $200 denominations, with an upfront purchase charge ranging from $4.95 to $6.95, and is replaceable for free if lost or stolen.

The American Express Gift Card can be used at locations across Canada where American Express is accepted.

"We wanted customers to feel good about a product that has absolutely no fees of any kind for the recipient, and the funds never expire," Grosfield said. "This year, American Express is happy to help Canadians wrap up their holiday shopping early with our ground-breaking, no-fee-after-purchase gift cards."

For more information, please visit: www.americanexpress.ca/gift.

SOURCE: American Express

Killeen Kelly on behalf of American Express Canada, Tel: (416) 644-2273, Email:
kkelly@breespr.com; Jolene Price, Tel: (905) 474-8746, Email: Jolene.price@aexp.com