Lawsuit: Answering calls, scanning emails on smartphone after hours deserves overtime

CHICAGO - A federal lawsuit in Chicago claims scanning emails and answering calls from bosses on your smartphone after hours constitute work that should be compensated.

Chicago police Sgt. Jeffrey Allen claims in the suit that the city owes him and fellow officers overtime pay for work performed on department-requisitioned BlackBerry phones. If the plaintiffs eventually prevail, it could mean millions of dollars in back pay.

The suit claims police brass pressured subordinates to answer work-related calls and emails but told them not to file for overtime. The city counters that written policy is that officers should ask for overtime.

Allen's lawyers and city attorneys told a judge Wednesday they have agreed on the wording of documents to be sent to other officers asking if they want to join the lawsuit.