IBM has agreed to pay $65 million to settle a class action wage and hour suit filed by current and former technical workers who claimed they were incorrectly classified as exempt from state and federal overtime pay rules.

“Litigation of this case would have been lengthy, burdensome and expensive, and IBM chose to resolve it, without admitting any wrongdoing or liability, for a total of $65 million,” the company said in a Nov. 22 statement. “IBM continues to believe that its payment practices are fair and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.”

The suit, filed in January in Federal District Court in San Francisco by three current and former IBM employees, claimed that workers classified as technical services professionals and information technology specialists should have qualified for overtime pay. The suit claimed the employees routinely worked more than 40 hours per week.

Each of the 32,000 workers in the two job categories will be entitled to apply for a payment, according to the terms of the settlement.

IBM has agreed to pay $65 million to settle a class action wage and hour suit filed by current and former technical workers who claimed they were incorrectly classified as exempt from state and federal overtime pay rules.

“Litigation of this case would have been lengthy, burdensome and expensive, and IBM chose to resolve it, without admitting any wrongdoing or liability, for a total of $65 million,” the company said in a Nov. 22 statement. “IBM continues to believe that its payment practices are fair and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.”

The suit, filed in January in Federal District Court in San Francisco by three current and former IBM employees, claimed that workers classified as technical services professionals and information technology specialists should have qualified for overtime pay. The suit claimed the employees routinely worked more than 40 hours per week.

Each of the 32,000 workers in the two job categories will be entitled to apply for a payment, according to the terms of the settlement.