You Do the Work, You Earn the Money - At Least, That's the Idea

It seems like companies are constantly trying to come up with ways to pay people less for their work. Unfair? Absolutely - but, in some cases, it's also illegal, and workers in the United States are not without protections. Whether it's federal guarantees of how much you earn per hour or state protections against discrimination, it's important to know your rights and how to assert them. ClassAction.org's committed to keeping you informed of the latest news, whether it's Insomniac, Inc's alleged attempts to use "volunteers" instead of paid workers or problems with the ways companies use background checks. We've also got the latest on defective products and dangerous drug lawsuits - read on to find out more.

- Simon Clark, ClassAction.org Writer

Insomniac, Live Nation "Volunteers" File Lawsuit

Volunteering at your favorite music festival might sound like a dream, but for some, the experience quickly becomes a bit too much like work - and unpaid work, at that. Insomniac and Live Nation, who jointly organize the Together as One music festival, among others, are facing a lawsuit for allegedly using "volunteers" in the place of paid employees, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Some "volunteers" claim they had to work shifts of up to fourteen hours - and their only compensation was admission to the event, which they allegedly had no time to enjoy. The plaintiff also brings claims under California labor laws, alleging that workers were not given required rest or meal breaks.
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You don't expect skin cream - especially cream sold as "healing" or "control cream" - to cause itching, burning, or other side effects. A class action lawsuit against Mario Badescu, however, alleged that the company's healing and control creams contain triamcinolone acetonide and hydrocortisone - steroids that can cause skin inflammation, irritation, and other problems. The suit, now subject to a proposed settlement agreement, alleged that Mario Badescu misrepresented its skin creams by hiding the steroids' use and failing to list them among the ingredients; however, in some cases, misrepresentation is the least of consumers' problems. Attorneys are now looking to file individual lawsuits on behalf of those injured by the creams - actions that will be separate from the class action lawsuit.

Credit Disability Insurance Switch Doesn’t Offer Much

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) publishes thorough and helpful guidelines on your rights as a worker - including your rights in regard to background checks. The EEOC has just published a new guide to background check laws, "Background Checks: What Job Applicants and Employees Should Know," and knowing your rights is an important part of job hunting. If you were subject to a background check that didn't comply with the law, which has strict requirements on what an employer must do before and after conducting background checks, you may be able to take legal action.
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