Key Takeaways:
– Over 100 California hotel maintenance workers have sued Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for $1 million.
– The workers allege that Disney did not pay California’s mandatory minimum wage and forced them to use their own tools.
– The company is also accused of denying workers sufficient break time and mishandling the final wages of former employees.
Disney Parks & Resorts Accused of Labor Violations
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, known worldwide for its magical theme parks, has been sued by more than 100 hotel maintenance workers. The class action lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court last Thursday, claims the employees weren’t paid California’s obligatory minimum wage. Furthermore, the workers assert they were compelled to use their own hand tools.
According to the lawsuit, “Disney failed to pay … employees the required double the minimum as prescribed by the Wage Orders for requiring they bring their own hand tools.” The action further condemns Disney for underpayment of wages and accuses the company failing to pay the correct regular rate, overtime rate or daily rate.
Insufficient Breaks and Final Wages’ Mishandling
Additionally, Disney is under fire for allegedly denying the workers enough break time. Troublesome behavior in paying final wages to the former workers who serviced the hotels near Disneyland theme park has also been reported. These labor violations, if verified, significantly tarnish Disney’s reputation as one of the world’s most loved entertainment companies.
Charlie Torres Leads Lawsuit
This legal battle was triggered following a complaint by Charlie Torres, hired as an assistant maintenance engineer in February 2022. Although the case started this year, the damages sought by the lawsuit stretch back to 2020.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, which initially covered the case, the litigants are seeking “at least $1 million in back pay.” However, no specific monetary amount is listed in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs’ representation, West Coast Trial Lawyers, in a statement to the Daily News, mentioned they were seeking “potentially seven figures in back pay owed.”
Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Slams Disney
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Ron Zambrano, expressed outrage at the company’s actions. “Disney may be the ‘happiest place on Earth’ for its visitors, but when it comes to its maintenance workers who are responsible for helping keep it happy, Disney couldn’t be bothered to even pay for basic tools,” Zambrano said. Further slamming Disney for its labor practices, Zambrano added, “Disney is a massive company. They know the law.”
To date, Disney has not responded to requests for comment. Given its global reputation and the magnitude of these allegations, this lawsuit could have a significant impact on the company’s public image. As this legal battle unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Disney responds and what steps it will take to address these serious claims. This case serves as a reminder to big corporations about the importance of fair labor practices, even amid the sparkle and magic of world-renowned theme parks. Disney, without a doubt, has some serious work ahead to resolve these wage violation issues and restore its reputation.
The coming weeks will shed more light on this case’s ramifications for Disney, its employees, and labor law on a broader scale. Indeed, this lawsuit raises significant questions about how some of the world’s largest and most successful companies treat their employees.