Settlement with a class action lawsuit in which Apple pays more than 3.4 billion yen and insists that 'employees should be paid for property inspection time'

Apple operates physical Apple Stores around the world, where personal belongings are checked 'out of working hours' to check if employees have stolen merchandise. Apple had been filed in a class action for eight years by employees who claimed that it was strange that they wouldn't be paid when inspecting their belongings, as it could last up to 45 minutes. After a court battle, Apple finally settled the proceedings and agreed to pay $ 30 million.

Apple to Pay $ 30 Million Over Store Workers' Security Checks --Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-13/apple-to-pay-30-million-over-security-checks-for-store-workers

Apple agrees to pay workers $ 30 million to settle lawsuit over bag check policy --9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2021/11/13/apple-agrees-to-pay-workers-30-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-bag-check-policy/

Apple was filed a class action lawsuit in 2013 by an employee working at the Apple Store. Apple is doing overtime inventory checks to check if employees have stolen goods, which can last up to 45 minutes. In the proceedings, Apple claimed that employees needed to check for stolen goods, but its CEO Tim Cook was unaware that such a security policy existed and employees It was also revealed that when a member directly complained, he was asking an executive in the personnel department, 'Is it true (that there is such a security policy)?'

The California judge who was in charge of this class action dismissed the case in 2015. After that, the defendant appealed, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sought to clarify the law from the Supreme Court of California. And in February 2020, the California Supreme Court ruled against Apple that 'employees should be paid for their belongings while they are on duty.'

Court orders Apple to 'pay employees while they are inspected for belongings as they are on duty'-GIGAZINE

by Niels Epting

Finally, Bloomberg reports that Apple has finally agreed to pay employees to settle the proceedings. According to media reports, Apple will pay $ 29.9 million to employees working at the Apple Store in California, where its own security policy was in place. The settlement must be approved by Judge William Alsup of the US District Court.

Courthouse News Service reports that the settlement can be obtained in a class action by 12,000 employees working or previously working at the Apple Store in California. At the time of writing the article, you will receive up to $ 1200 per person (about 137,000 yen).