BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Television personality Miranda Khan — seen regularly on Boca-based Newsmax — is suing the conservative channel for back pay. She claims, in a suit just filed in Palm Beach County, that Newsmax did not appropriately compensate her for her work as a commentator and host.
The suit includes this language:
“While employed by Newsmax, Plaintiff customarily and regularly worked over forty (40) hours a week. Plaintiff worked particularly long hours during the 2016 presidential election period. Newsmax, however, never compensated Plaintiff for time-and-a-half her regularly (sic) rate of pay for all hours worked over forty (40) in a workweek. Newsmax’s failure to pay Plaintiff overtime wages was a violation of the FLSA.”
Adds the suit:
“A few days ago, Newsmax announced that it has signed an agreement with Altice USA to launch its 24/7 cable news channel to Optimum and Suddenlink customers nationwide. Recently, Newsmax entered into an an agreement with Comcast under which Newsmax would be available in another 10 million homes.”
There are creative allegations as well:
“While working for prior employers, Plaintiff was generally part of a collaborative environment that encouraged independent thought and ideas. Newsmax had a much different environment. Plaintiff was not allowed to exercise any significant level of creativity while at Newsmax.”
Ed. Note: Without commenting on the legal merits of the case but based on significant on-air experience: there is a general level of understanding that if you’re on TV, you’re going to work as needed, that the hours will be long, there will be feverish internal editorial debates and occasional mandates, and that it’s all part of the job. Often there are contracts or agreements specifying hour requirements and compensation for “on air” employees. Talent unions such as AFRTA often have overriding agreements with broadcast outlets, although Florida is a ”right to work” state out of AFTRA’s jurisdiction. We’ll monitor the suit as it progresses through the system.
Read the complete filing:
