News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by TheHypnotist on Friday August 08, 2014 @05:07PM (#8155049)
According to this article ( http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/41428spacex-s... ) they were firings, not layoffs. Which may throw a wrench in their lawsuit.
Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by georgemcbay on Friday August 08, 2014 @05:21PM (#8155123)
IANAL, but I don't think this is going to fly in court given that (4 times) more than 50 people were let go at once. If it looks like a layoff and quacks like a layoff, I don't think the judge or a jury is going to care what SpaceX calls it.

Kind of surprised a company that is so on the ball technically would fuck something like this up; it is definitely going to end up costing them way more than 2 months severance to everyone (plus whatever they were owed -- some people claim they didn't even get that) would have.

Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by gpm on Friday August 08, 2014 @05:33PM (#8155166)
In this case I think it might, I'm not a lawyer, but the relevant law seems to be this one (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=lab&gr...), which defines layoff as

> "Layoff" means a separation from a position for lack of funds or lack of work.

Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by sokoloff on Friday August 08, 2014 @07:19PM (#8155615)
US Dept of Labor and the Federal WARN Act have specific requirements for employers over 100 employees where 50 or more are let go from a single location in a 30-day period: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/layoffs.htm

Doesn't matter if they're layoffs for lack of work or performance-based firings: you still have to comply with the provisions of that law.

(I have no knowledge whether SpaceX did or did not comply, of course.)

Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by stillworking on Friday August 08, 2014 @08:15PM (#8155794)
http://www.doleta.gov/layoff/pdf/EmployerWARN09_2003.pdf

The official employers guide to WARN states that people let go for cause are not counted under WARN.

The SpaceX position seems to be: 1) We just did our yearly performance reviews 2) Low performers were fired 3) Since they were all let go for cause, WARN does not apply.

Some people are claiming that it is a layoff and SpaceX is just trying to work around it. I'm imagining the SpaceX position here would be: 1) Layoffs are defined as letting employees go due to reduction in work or lack of money 2) SpaceX is experiencing neither of these 3) SpaceX plans to grow 20% this year; proof that there is no reduction in work 4) SpaceX has lots of open positions and is actively hiring; further proof that there is no reduction in work or lack of money

Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by gpm on Friday August 08, 2014 @07:33PM (#8155670)
The article says that the suit is about a alleged "violation of California's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.", and "The Cal WARN Act", not the Federal WARN Act.

I have no knowledge of this lawsuit other then this article though.

Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by hga on Friday August 08, 2014 @07:41PM (#8155693)
The "not paying them wages earned before termination" would be a matter of state law, and with California having its own WARN Act, I presume the lawyers think it's best to sue in state court.
Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by krschultz on Friday August 08, 2014 @05:23PM (#8155130)
Well, the company always wants to say it is a performance based firing, that reduces the company unemployment insurance liability. However, the companies don't get the final say in the matter.
Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by seanflyon on Friday August 08, 2014 @06:09PM (#8155329)
I think fired employees are eligible for unemployment, so I wouldn't think it would effect unemployment insurance liability. As far as I am aware, you are eligible for unemployment so long as you did not chose to leave.
Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by jsight on Friday August 08, 2014 @06:20PM (#8155392)
Fired employees are not always eligible for unemployment: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/unemployment-benefits...
Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by goodJobWalrus on Friday August 08, 2014 @05:10PM (#8155067)
but how do you justify not paying the wages earned?
Re:SpaceX Slapped With Wage Class Action Over Mass Layoff by bnejad on Friday August 08, 2014 @05:30PM (#8155151)
Yeah this is really the worst part even they were actually firings.