An employment lawyer says the fallout from the Smiths City case could get messy.

The Smiths City Employment Court ruling has triggered hundreds of similar complaints from workers at other companies.

Employment lawyer Max Whitehead told Mike Hosking you have a case if you boss demands you come in.

He says often it's a blurry line between casually catching up with your boss before work and a formal meeting.

"The boss will come up and have a chat 'how did it go yesterday, what happened at so and so's property, did you get that finished yet? oh great' and it evolves and it becomes a bit of a meeting."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MAX WHITEHEAD SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING