McDonald's Faces Meal & Rest Break Violation Allegations in California Class Action

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A recent California class action alleges the rigorous work schedules of McDonald's employees meant skipping rest breaks and meal periods, which may have resulted in additional alleged labor law violations.

The Case: Dawn Ball and Melissa Duggins v. NJK Management Corp (McDonald's)

The Court: Butte County Superior Court of the State of California

The Case No.: 24CV02523

The Plaintiffs: Dawn Ball and Melissa Duggins v. McDonald's

The plaintiffs in the case, Dawn Ball and Melissa Duggins, filed a California class action complaint against NJK Management Corporation ("McDonald's"). The lawsuit alleges that McDonald's failed to provide the required meal and rest breaks and pay employees for all their time worked, violating the California Labor Code.

The Defendant: Dawn Ball and Melissa Duggins v. McDonald's

The defendant in the case, McDonald's, faces a string of employment violation allegations in the class action. According to the plaintiffs, the company violated California Labor Code §§ 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 226, 226.7, 246, 351, 510, 512, 558, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802 when they failed to:

  • pay employees minimum wages

  • pay employees accurate overtime wages

  • reimburse workers for necessary business expenses

  • offer workers with meal periods/breaks

  • provide accurate itemized employee wage statements

  • provide employees with their wages when due

The Case: Dawn Ball and Melissa Duggins v. McDonald's

Due to frequently rigorous work schedules, McDonald's workers were allegedly unable to take off-duty meal breaks and rest periods. When they did receive a meal break or rest period, they allegedly were not relieved of their job duties during the break. Instead, they were regularly interrupted to assist with work or complete job duties for the company. Ball and Duggins claim that working a 5-hour shift without a break for McDonald's employees was unsurprising. The plaintiffs also claim that working a 10-hour shift without their 1st and 2nd breaks was a regular occurrence. The two former McDonald's employees claim that during their time at the company, it was standard policy for employees to stay on call and basically on duty during their off-duty meal periods and rest breaks. As a result, McDonald's employees regularly forfeited their meal breaks. They were allegedly not provided additional compensation for doing so. The forfeiture of breaks without additional compensation is allegedly in line with strict corporate policy and standard practices at McDonald's. The case Dawn Ball and Melissa Duggins v. McDonald's is pending in California's Butte County Superior Court.

If you have questions about filing a California Class Action employment lawsuit, please reach out to Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Their experienced employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.