REI Faced With California Overtime Settlement

A popular sporting goods store was ordered to pay a multi-million dollar settlement to employees for violations of California overtime laws. Recreational Equipment Inc. (known as REI) was allegedly guilty of not paying employees for all time worked in addition to multiple additional California wage and hour law violations.

The REI California overtime class action lawsuit was filed by Alison M. and Justin Q., both former employees of REI. Class Members include any REI employee in California who worked in an hourly, non-exempt role between Nov. 21, 2009 and Oct. 31 2014. This includes roughly 5,000 Class Members.

Magistrate Judge Paul Singh Grewal approved the motion for preliminary approval for the California overtime settlement. He stated, “The class action settlement set forth in the settlement agreement, entered into among the parties and their counsel, is preliminarily approved as it appears to be proper, to fall within the range of reasonableness, to be the product of arm’s-length and informed negotiations, to treat all class members fairly, and to be presumptively valid, subject only to any objections that may be raised at or before the final approval hearing.”

REI is required to pay $2.5 million for California wage and hour violations. $1.73 million will be used to pay the Class Members involved in this California overtime class action lawsuit. The rest will be set aside to pay for the attorneys, the class action administrator, as well as other legal costs. The named plaintiffs will each receive $5,000.

California Wage and Hour Violations

An employee (or former employee) in California can file a California overtime lawsuit or class action lawsuit following a violation of the California employment codes.

In this situation, REI allegedly did not pay minimum wages or for any/all overtime hours. They also did not pay for off-the-clock work (when an employee has clocked out of work but still was required to perform work tasks) or for business expenses, according to the REI California overtime class action lawsuit.

Other California wage and hour violations may include the following:

• Unpaid Overtime
• Unpaid Wages
• Off-the-Clock Work
• Misclassification
• Missed Meals & Breaks
• Donning & Doffing
• Less than Minimum Wage
• Tip Pooling

California labor laws are quite clear when it comes to protecting the rights of California employees. If your employer is guilty of violating California overtime laws, then a California overtime lawsuit or class action lawsuit may be able to help you win compensation for the hours you worked or for missed lunch or break periods.

This California Overtime Class Action Lawsuit is Case No. 5:14-cv-00300, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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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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