McDonald’s Wage Class Action Lawsuits Could Include 30,000 Workers

A coordinated effort to improve the conditions for fast food restaurant workers includes multiple unpaid wage class action lawsuits in three separate states naming McDonald’s as defendant.

All allege similar violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, including not paying employees for time they should have been on the clock, avoidance of paying overtime, and the illegal requirement that employees pay for their own uniforms. According to numerous media reports, if the classes were certified, the number of staff affected could number more than 30,000 people in California, Michigan and New York.

Similar wage and hour lawsuits, including one filed by a former McDonald’s employee who worked at least one Upstate New York location, have focused on specific franchises or groups owned by the same person or business. This has been done because of tactics by McDonald’s and other fast food chains, arguing that they are not responsible for the actions of individual operators.

McDonald’s reportedly pays many of its workers the federal or state minimum per hour, which offers wage and hour lawsuit attorneys another avenue for legal redress. In many cases they cite shaved hours and the inability to take breaks as violations that lead to unpaid overtime. However, in the case of employees making as little as $7.25, they are also alleging that the various franchise owners failed to even meet minimum wage requirements.

Particularly important will be the answers to legal questions involving company owned and operated outlets. In order to improve its profit margin, the company has software that reportedly identifies low-revenue periods and recommends that chain restaurants cut down on staffing. However, it is unclear whether there is a pattern of policies from the corporate level recommending that managers tell employees to wait before clocking in, even though they were on site for a scheduled shift.

The Michigan unpaid wage class actions are Wilson et al. v. McDonald’s Corporation et al., Case No. 14-cv-11082; and Pullen et al v. McDonald’s Corporation et al., Case No. 14-cv-11081, both in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan.

Information for the cases filed in California and New York state were not immediately available.

If you believe that you have missed out on pay in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, you may have legal options available to you. Submit your information at the Service Charge, Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation for an eligibility review. Potential plaintiffs will receive a free consultation with a wage and hour lawsuit attorney.