News Flash: Court Rebuffs Temps’ Claim For Benefits

A federal court in California has thrown out a lawsuit we mentioned in the August 1999 issue of California Employer Advisor, which was filed by long-term temps contending that, even though they were paid by employee-leasing agencies, they should be considered regular Atlantic Richfield Co. employees entitled to receive benefits. The temps sought retirement benefits, as well as participation in the company’s401(k) plan, employee stock bonus plan and health and dental plan. The trial court ruled, however, that the workers were not entitled to benefits because ARCO hired them as leased employees, which are specifically excluded from ARCO’s pension plan. The workers have appealed the ruling.