Kraft Heinz Settles California Overtime Lawsuit with $3 Million Agreement

Kraft Heinz Foods Co. recently agreed to pay $3 million to bring an end to a California overtime class action lawsuit filed by thousands of its workers.

The class action lawsuit was filed by some 4,000 Kraft Heinz workers in California, who allege that the food and beverage company—the third largest in the United States and fifth largest in the world—failed to pay its workers all wages owed, including overtime compensation, and also failed to provide all the meal and rest breaks required by California law.

The workers included in this class action process and package a number of products, from Lunchables to Corn Nuts. The group first filed their lawsuit in state court in 2016. It was later consolidated with a similar suit and removed to federal court.

One of the classes that were certified by Judge Hayes in 2018 claims that Kraft Heinz’s payroll software would automatically deduct a full 30-minute meal break from their time cards, even if they did not actually clock out and clock back in, marking the beginning and end of their break. Other classes allege that Kraft Heinz owes them unpaid wages for work conducted before and after their shifts under company control, which they claim the company manually deducted.

Kraft Heinz denies the allegations, but agreed to the $3 million settlement in order to “resolve all disputes between the parties in good faith and put this matter to rest,” according to Kraft Heinz’s senior vice president, Michael Mullen.

Class Members include nonexempt employees in California who were employed at Kraft Heinz production plans sometime between Sept. 8, 2012, and the present. The proposed agreement notes that each plaintiff will receive approximately $409. Lead plaintiffs are expected to receive several thousand dollars apiece.

There are both federal and state laws protecting workers in the United States. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes basic minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping standards across the country. State laws get even more specific.

In order to make sure that you’re being treated fairly in your workplace and being paid what you’re due, it’s important to know the basics of your state’s wage and hour laws.

In some cases, workers may worry that filing a lawsuit will lead to retaliation from their employer, but there are laws in place to protect workers against discrimination and retaliation based on wage and hour complaints.

Filing a California Overtime Lawsuit

If you believe your employer is violating California labor laws, such as denied meal and rest breaks or California overtime laws, you may be able to file a wage and hour lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Wage and hour litigation can be complicated, and filing a lawsuit can be overwhelming, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced California labor law attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free California Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

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

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