On Wednesday Walmart Inc. settled a nine-year-old case for $65 million to almost 100,000 current and former California Walmart cashiers. The cashiers accused Walmart of not providing them with sufficient seating during their shifts.
The settlement, which includes the provision that Walmart will start ensuring adequate seating be available for its California cashiers, still requires the approval of a federal judge.
The court filing states that, if approved, this will be the largest settlement ever under California’s Private Attorney General Act which accords employees with the right to sue their employers on behalf of the state and to retain 25% of any money won.
Walmart’s defense team argued that using stools at cash registers would not only pose a hazard but may cause productivity to suffer. Walmart had also said it had a policy of providing stools for cashiers who required them for medical reasons and that store managers could provide stools on an ad hoc basis at their discretion.
Last year Bank of America was ordered to pay $15 million over employee seating, or lack thereof. CVS, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Kmart, AT&T and Home Depot have also faced similar lawsuits.
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