Class Action Claims California Ikea Employees Denied Proper Wages, Uninterrupted Breaks

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Two former Ikea employees claim they were deprived of proper minimum and overtime wages and meal and rest breaks, among other apparent abuses of the California Labor Code.

Filed against Ikea North America Services, LLC; Ikea US Retail LLC; and Ikea Distribution Services Inc., the lawsuit claims the furniture retailer has “engaged in a pattern and practice of wage abuse” against its hourly paid, non-exempt employees in California.

Per the complaint, employees were not provided with uninterrupted, 30-minute meal breaks for every five hours worked and 10-minute rest breaks for every four hours worked, much less compensation in lieu of compliant break periods. Under state law, employees are entitled to one hour of pay at their regular rate for each day in which a meal or rest break was missed, the suit says.

Moreover, Ikea employees did not receive at least the minimum wage for every hour worked or proper time-and-a-half overtime for hours worked in excess of 40 each week, the case claims. Still further, the plaintiffs allege they and other employees were not provided with all due compensation upon the end of their employment with the defendants.

The lawsuit goes on to allege that Ikea workers were also not provided with accurate, itemized wage statements or reimbursement for business-related expenses.

According to the case, the defendants’ labor law violations were intentional and executed to increase Ikea’s bottom line. From the complaint:

The lawsuit, which has been removed to federal court since its August 24 filing in Los Angeles County Superior Court, looks to cover all former and current hourly paid or non-exempt employees who worked for the defendants and resided in California during the past four years and until final judgment is reached.

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