A lawyer representing employees in a call center labor dispute has alleged that the company offered employees a $450 for a pledge not to sue the firm.

“It is our position that the company’s attempt to hold retention payments hostage is unlawful,” George Hanson, attorney for the plaintiffs, told Direct Newsline.

Hanson did not rule out adding these allegations to the suit in the future.

The attorney filed suit last Thursday on behalf of 86 current and former employees of TeleTech’s Topeka call center in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, KS alleging unfair labor practices such as denial of overtime pay and compensation for work done during break times.

The suit seeks such damages as back wages and overtime pay for all uncompensated work performed during the past three years. According to news reports, Teletech Holdings Inc. sent a memo to employees on Thursday, a day after Hanson announced the lawsuit.

The memo said the bonus criteria included “your execution of a separation agreement, to be provided by the company, after the conclusion of employment that includes a release of claims against the company.”

The memo further stated that employees wouldn’t be eligible for the retention bonus if they did include a release of claims against the company.”

Calls to Englewood, CO- based TeleTech were not returned at deadline.

A lawyer representing employees in a call center labor dispute has alleged that the company offered employees a $450 for a pledge not to sue the firm.

“It is our position that the company’s attempt to hold retention payments hostage is unlawful,” George Hanson, attorney for the plaintiffs, told Direct Newsline.

Hanson did not rule out adding these allegations to the suit in the future.

The attorney filed suit last Thursday on behalf of 86 current and former employees of TeleTech’s Topeka call center in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, KS alleging unfair labor practices such as denial of overtime pay and compensation for work done during break times.

The suit seeks such damages as back wages and overtime pay for all uncompensated work performed during the past three years. According to news reports, Teletech Holdings Inc. sent a memo to employees on Thursday, a day after Hanson announced the lawsuit.

The memo said the bonus criteria included “your execution of a separation agreement, to be provided by the company, after the conclusion of employment that includes a release of claims against the company.”

The memo further stated that employees wouldn’t be eligible for the retention bonus if they did include a release of claims against the company.”

Calls to Englewood, CO- based TeleTech were not returned at deadline.