Content area
Abstract
BDO Seidman is the latest firm, and first outside the Big Four, to be named in a class action lawsuit that seeks unpaid overtime wages for past and present employees. The lawsuit, Nguyen v. B.D.O. Seidman, seeks to recover millions of dollars in overtime pay for its past and present associate accountants. The lawsuit alleges BDO Seidman improperly classified its unlicensed associate accountants as "exempt" from receiving overtime pay and other benefits. The lawsuit claims that under California law, accountants must be licensed in order to be properly classified as exempt. The complaint further alleges that the work duties of young associate accountants often consists of performing a wide variety of menial tasks that are highly supervised and controlled by accountants who are licensed. As such, the associates are not able to exercise "independent discretion and judgment," a requirement under California law to be considered exempt.