Worker says Amazon denied him breaks, overtime pay

Workers at an Amazon shipping center in Sacramento were denied regular breaks, overtime pay and time to travel from the clock-in area to their work station during regular shifts of 10-plus hours, according to a legal complaint filed this week.

The complaint, which is seeking class-action status in Sacramento County Superior Court, was filed against Amazon and Golden State FC, LLC, a joint venture that runs several fulfillment centers for Amazon in Sacramento, the Central Valley and San Bernardino.

Romeo Palma, who filed the complaint, said he was regularly denied overtime wages and compensation for missed meals and rest breaks during long shifts at the Sacramento County shipping center.

“We have been learning of sweatshop-like conditions for workers, who work long shifts and have not been able to get the appropriate rest breaks and overtime that is required,” Los Angeles attorney Joshua Haffner, who is representing Palma, said in a statement. “Providing the short break required by law isn’t too much to ask.”

Though Amazon has a longstanding reputation for stressful working conditions in its pursuit of speed and market dominance, complaints of workplaces denying employees the requisite break time mandated by California law are common across industries and companies.

Some law firms throughout the state have sought plaintiffs for similar cases against Amazon for years. A similar lawsuit was filed against Amazon this year, in which two former employees accuse the company of shorting them on overtime, meal breaks and other state requirements at fulfillment centers in Patterson (Stanislaus County) and San Bernardino.

State law entitles employees who work for eight hours or more to 10-minute breaks every four hours. Employees who work a five-hour shift or longer are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break.

Workers must be allowed to take the full break time, not including travel time to or from a designated break area. Often, it is this part of the law — travel time — that is at issue in workplace complaints.

Palma’s complaint alleged that due to the size of the fulfillment center where he worked, walk time was a problem that contributed to longer workdays and unpaid time.

If an employer fails to provide an employee with the requisite rest period, according to state law, the business would then be required to pay the employee one additional hour for each workday the person was denied a rest period.

Amazon and Golden State did not respond to requests for comment.

“We have been learning of sweatshop-like conditions for workers.” Joshua Haffner, attorney for plaintiff Romeo Palma