Walgreens class action alleges company failed to provide rest, meal breaks

Walgreens wage-theft class action overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Sean Parker filed a class action lawsuit against Walgreens Pharmacy Services Midwest, LLC and Walgreen Co.
• Why: Parker claims Walgreens failed to provide its non-exempt employees with rest and meal breaks in accordance with Washington state law.
• Where: The Walgreens wage theft class action lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court.

A former Walgreens employee accuses the pharmacy chain of failing to provide meal breaks and reimburse business expenses to hourly, non-exempt employees.

Plaintiff Sean Parker filed the class action complaint against Walgreens Pharmacy Services Midwest LLC and Walgreen Co. on July 18 in a Washington federal court, alleging violations of state and federal labor laws.

Parker’s lawsuit claims Walgreens failed to provide meal breaks, rest periods and overtime pay to its employees.

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Parker, who worked as a non-exempt pharmacy assistant and technician at Walgreens between August 2023 and February 2024, claims the company systematically violated wage and hour laws during that time.

He alleges Walgreens failed to provide 10-minute rest periods and 30-minute meal breaks, as required by law, and sometimes required employees to work off the clock during unpaid meal periods.

Walgreens failed to reimburse business expenses, lawsuit alleges

Parker also claims Walgreens failed to reimburse employees for business expenses, such as using personal cell phones for work-related calls and messages. He says this resulted in violations of the Seattle Wage Theft Ordinance.

The lawsuit seeks to represent a class of all current and former non-exempt employees who worked for Walgreens in Washington state within the past three years.

The complaint alleges violations of the Washington Industrial Welfare Act, the Washington Minimum Wage Act and the Seattle Secure Scheduling Ordinance. Parker is seeking compensation for unpaid wages, damages and attorney’s fees.

Parker demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of statutory damages for himself and all class members.

Last year, Walgreens agreed to a $100 million settlement to resolve claims it overcharged insurance companies for prescription drugs. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has opened a class action against Walgreens for alleging filling millions of invalid opioid prescriptions in violation of federal law.

Have you ever worked for Walgreens in a non-exempt position in Washington state? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Jamie K. Serb and Zachary M. Crosner of Crosner Legal, P.C.

The Walgreens wage-theft class action lawsuit is Parker, et al. v. Walgreens Pharmacy Services Midwest, LLC, et al., Case No. 3:25-cv-05624, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

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