Apple Workers File Class Action Alleging Illegal Break Policies

A San Diego judge has certified a class of 21,000 current and former Apple workers who allege the company’s break policies violated California law. The complaint, which covers the four-year period from December 2007 to August 2012, claims workers worked more than five hours before they were given a lunch break, and that a second rest break for longer shifts was overlooked. State law says the company must pay employees the equivalent of one hour’s wage for each missed break, which could add up to substantial damages for Apple. The judge who approved the class said Apple changed its break policy after nine months and there was no record of employees being compensated for missed breaks before November 2012.