Employees providing central services for a multiunit organization
may be engaged both ``in commerce'' and ``in the production of goods for
commerce'' within the meaning of the Act. For example, employees engaged
in work relating to the coordinated purchasing, warehousing and
distribution (and in the administrative and clerical work relating to
such activities) for various retail units of a chain are covered under
the Act. (See Phillips Co. v. Walling, 324 U.S. 490; Walling v.
Jacksonville Paper Co., 317 U.S. 564, affirming, 128 F. 2d 935 (CA-5);
Mitchell v. C. & P. Stores, 286 F. 2d 109 (CA-5); Mitchell v. E. G.
Shinner & Co., Inc., 221 F. 2d 260 (CA-7); Donovan v. Shell Oil Co., 168
F. 2d 776 (CA-8).) In addition, employees who regularly and recurrently
correspond and maintain records of activities of out-of-State stores and
such employees as traveling auditors, inventory men, window display men,
etc., who regularly travel from State to State in the performance of
their duties are covered under the Act. (See Mitchell v. Kroger Co., 248
F. 2d 935 (CA-8).)
