Paris Kills Late Nights for Apple Staff

Apple can't make its Paris store employees work past 9PM, and to back that up a Paris court has ordered the Mac, iPhone and iPad maker to pay €10,000 fine to unions for working its staff after closing their stores at night. The fine came as part of a lawsuit brought by labor unions, and Apple faces €50,000 fines if employees keep working after 9PM.

France to Apple: No late nights in your storesFrance to Apple: No late nights in your stores

The labor unions filed their lawsuit because Apple routinely keeps retail staff on the clock after closing to clean the stores and wrap up end-of-day duties -- a practice that's common in the retail market. French laws, however, say that employees can work between 9PM and 6AM only if companies can show that their late night jobs are necessary for social services or to keep economic activity operating, according to AFP. In Apple's case, its stores close at 9PM, but employees sometimes work as late as 11PM.

Union representatives said the lawsuit was filed because they wanted Apple to respect French laws.

Since stores need to be cleaned, sales totaled and bank deposits processed, Apple's Paris employees will have to find ways to handle those tasks during regular working hours, close earlier to avoid the 9PM work cutoff, or face more fines.

[Thanks to The Verge for the heads up]