A judge has ruled that McDonald’s must pay a $26 million settlement to former employees in California. Back in 2013, a group of employees filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that McDonald’s had committed several wage and hour law violations. The employees said that McDonald’s withheld part of their wages, refused to give them their allotted breaks and didn’t pay their employees minimum wage. The suit also alleged that McDonald’s failed to pay their employees for overtime.
Seven years later, a judge has finally ruled in favor of the employees. As a result, over 30,000 McDonald’s locations throughout California will have to pay out a massive settlement. Some employees are receiving nearly $4,000 to compensate for the wage and hour law violations.
The settlement also required the company to review its policies to ensure that employees are being treated fairly. In a statement, McDonald’s says that it is dedicated to treating employees fairly. Company representatives said that they didn’t believe the company had broken any laws but felt that it was in their best interest to end the litigation after seven years. They also claimed that the settlement falls in line with the company’s values.
What should you do if your employer is withholding wages?
Small businesses and major corporations alike have been known to commit wage and hour law violations. This can include withholding wages, refusing to give you a meal break, paying less than minimum wage, not paying overtime wages and more. To deal with the issue, you might wish to hire an attorney.
Your attorney may be able to represent you in court and prove that you’ve been untreated fairly. Your attorney might also help you negotiate a settlement with the company that repays you for your lost wages or makes up for stolen breaks.