The McDonald’s corporation is paying $26 million to workers as part of a settlement that’s based on claims of workers at corporate restaurants not being paid what they were due. The lawsuit began in 2013 and alleges that the employees didn’t get paid for overtime and that they weren’t paid minimum wage. It is illegal for companies to do this and is considered wage theft.
The lawsuit also claims that McDonald’s didn’t pay wages when they were due and that the corporation didn’t provide rest breaks or meal breaks. The corporation denied the allegations against it but ultimately decided that it was best to settle. It issued a statement that notes that the agreement is in line with the commitment to provide positive employment experiences.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge accepted the settlement terms. As part of the settlement, McDonald’s is going to revise some of its policies. This includes how the company handles uniform practices, overtime and rest breaks. It will also have to train employees on the proper practices for all of these.
For some employees, the settlement means a payout of as much as $3,927.91; however, the average check will be $333.52. These employees stood up for their right to receive the wages they earned. It took a long time for them to get what was due to them but being persistent paid off considerably.
Anyone who’s facing wage and hour issues should learn about their options for getting what they’re due. These cases don’t always require you to go to court; however, there are legal methods that might prove useful.