Apple hit with $2 million verdict in Calif. retail employee rights class action suit

Apple has lost a class-action suit, that accused it of denying retail workers sufficient breaks, and paying final paychecks in some cases months too late and as a result, Apple must pay $2 million into a fund to pay for the lawyers, and compensate those wronged by its actions.

The $2 million ordered payment fund will dole out a maximum of $95 per worker, with the payouts likely to be less after legal fees are applied, and the 21,000-strong class members apply for the relief.

Apple was first accused of violating California's labor laws in 2011 by four employees who claimed the company did not provide adequate break time, meal time and paychecks on a timely basis.

Counsel asked for damages and restitution of all monies due to plaintiffs from unlawful business practices as pursuant to ten California Labor Code sections. As usual, interest accrued and applicable attorneys' fees were are sought.

Apple has yet to make a statement on the ruling.

Apple California Labor Code Class Action Suit - Amended Complaint 4

19 Comments

eightzero 3145 comments · 14 Years

About 7 years ago

thousandonethousandtwothousandthree...there. Apple just made $2M in profit.

holyone 398 comments · 8 Years

Apple probably spent this much paying their own lawyers who handled this for them, this crap shouldn't have gone to court waste of taxpayers money, but more worse waste of Apple's time, some one from Apple should have gone "ooh sorry about that how much do we owe you, oh that's it ? , hmm ok, here's 4M for you're trouble kids bye you're selves something nice, and we promise to rectify this ASAP, ok" end of story

bradipao 145 comments · 11 Years

jsmythe00 said:

All that money and this is what they're accused for doing?!? Pay your damn employees! I can understand if these cases were isolated accidents but to lose a class action means this was likely systemic. Corporate greed has a stench all its own

I suppose each department (also human resources) is under pressure to contribute to profits, so it seems they try to reduce salaries as much as possible and maximize final profits.

zoetmb 2655 comments · 17 Years

I really don't get it. It's hard to believe that Apple doesn't have an automated payroll system, just like everyone else. The only thing I can think of is that local managers didn't enter the final hours for the final paycheck on time out of spite that the employee left. And breaks? Does California have a law that you have to have breaks? I did once work for a retail chain in which you had to take a lunch break, but that was due to the union contract. Some decades ago I actually got fired for not taking a break - I knew I wouldn't get paid for the hour, but the department was incredibly busy so I stayed and worked. I thought I was doing the company a favor, but they used it as an excuse to let me go.

robin huber 4025 comments · 22 Years

I was a part time employee at one of the first Apple Stores, 2001? I didn't get any benefits including breaks or lunch because they never gave me more than a four hour shift. We were all so stoked to be working for Apple that we didn't care. Those were the good old days when Apple was "beleaguered" and only true believer fans like me were hired. There are so many stores today that they have to hire people who are only looking for a paycheck and are not evangelists. We gave out free cold water from the Genius Bar refrigerator too. Gone are the days.