Bridgestone Settles Wage and Hour Class Action for $3M

Final approval of a $3 million California wage and hour class action settlement has been granted.

Bridgestone agreed to pay up to $3.125 million to settle with a statewide Class of automobile technicans who allege the popular tire retailer violated California labor laws, according to a wage and hour class action lawsuit. 

About 2,757 current and former Bridgestone employees will be eligible for the approved $3 million class action settlement. The Bridgestone wage and hour class action lawsuit, originally filed in California Superior Court in 2012, accused Bridgestone of not paying its Golden State mechanics for time spent working off the clock.

The Bridgestone wage and hour class action lawsuit involves four lawsuits that have been consolidated. According to the plaintiffs, Bridgestone paid mechanics for work done, based on a pre-set time allowed for each job but failed to compensate the mechanics minimum wage for the time they spent waiting in-between jobs or for performing additional tasks such as preparing and cleaning their work areas.

The Bridgestone wage and hour class action settlement provides $1 million for each of the Classes.

California Wage and Hour Laws

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and several California state laws govern the rights of employees to fair wages and working conditions. Employers who cut corners and disregard these rights can be held legally accountable by employees and may face stiff penalties.

Employees are supposed to be paid for pre-shift and post-shift activities if they are an integral and indispensable part of the principal activities for which the workers are employed.

For purposes of California wage and hour laws and working off the clock rules, the term “principal activities” is considered to include any work of consequence performed for an employer no matter when the work is performed. Time spent waiting for work is compensable time for which employees are entitled to be paid if the waiting time is spent primarily for the benefit of the employer and the business.

California employment law also prohibits retaliation against an employee who inquires about unpaid wages or files a complaint about an employer’s violation of the wage and hour laws.

The Bridgestone Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuit is Case No. JCCP4638, in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles.

California Labor Law Legal Help

If you are employed in California and feel that your employer has violated a state or federal employment law, you may qualify for damages that may be awarded in a possible wage and hour lawsuit or class action lawsuit.

Join a Free Unpaid Overtime, Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay in California within the past 2 to 3 years, you have rights – and you don’t have to take on the company alone.

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