Court orders Apple to pay $2 million to store employees denied breaks

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Apple owes its store employees $2 million for failing to give adequate meal and rest breaks, a California court ruled.

The California State Superior Court in San Diego ruled Wednesday in favor of Apple retail employees who said the company violated state law in denying breaks, the itemizing of paycheck deductions, timely issuance of paychecks to employees leaving the company and other violations. The state law designates minimum meal breaks and rest breaks for employees.

The lawsuit was first filed in 2011 by four Apple store employees and became a class action suit in 2012 that included 21,000 employees. Another section of the lawsuit, which could result in additional payment, is expected to conclude next week.

The initial lawsuit noted that Apple's code of secrecy stalled the complainant's ability to fight the case.

"The restriction from discussing anything about Apple or its policies is reinforced on Apple's labor policies themselves. The majority, if not all, of Apple's employment policies make it clear that plaintiffs aren't allowed to discuss Apple's working conditions," the complaint said.

If divided equally, the case so far would yield $95 to each person filing the class action, minus attorney fees.