14 DAY TRIAL // Two former Apple employees are suing the Cupertino giant over violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and state labor laws. The reason? Apple cut their breaks short.
The suit is labeled as “class action,” meaning anyone who feels is in the same boat with these two can tag along and seek damages.
But first, let’s try to wrap our minds around the problem that caused this in the first place.
Apparently Apple Retail Stores have a policy that says all bags and purses and such must be checked before lunch break (as well as before leaving home) to ensure that no staffer walks out of the store with stolen goods.
Fair enough, but not when these checks happen on your time as a staffer. The duo suing Apple claims the store managers sometimes forced them to cut 10 to 15 minutes into their own time for a policy that benefits Apple and Apple only. So they’re suing. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
The court papers state, “Apple has engaged and continues to engage in illegal and improper wage practices that have deprived Apple Hourly Employees throughout the United States of millions of dollars in wages and overtime compensation.”
“These practices include requiring Apple Hourly Employees to wait in line and undergo two off-the-clock security bags searches and clearance checks when they leave for their meal breaks and after they have clocked out at the end of their shifts.”