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Workers in California, Michigan and New York this week filed six new lawsuits against McDonald’s claiming they were systematically shorted on pay by the fast-food giant and its franchisees, lawyers involved in the cases said Thursday.
The proposed lawsuits filed in state and federal courts name 27 plaintiffs but could potentially involve tens of thousands of current and past McDonald’s employees. The complaints allege that McDonald’s and certain franchisees violated minimum wage and overtime regulations, forced employees to work off the clock and took illegal deductions for costs related to uniforms.
“They were requiring employees to perform work that was simply never paid,” said Joe Sellers, an attorney representing workers in California. “Our clients are among the most economically vulnerable in our society, and they work for a company that generated more than $28 billion in revenue last year and earned more than $5 billion in profits.”
“McDonald’s and our independent owner-operators share a concern and commitment to the well-being and fair treatment of all people who work in McDonald’s restaurants,” Heidi Barker Sa Shekhem, a McDonald’s spokesperson, said in a statement. “We are currently reviewing the allegations in the lawsuits. McDonald’s and our independent franchisees are committed to undertaking a comprehensive investigation of the allegations and will take any necessary actions as they apply to our respective organizations.”