Walmart hit with $27 million judgment for denying employee work breaks and overtime pay

[douglas9]

(CN) — The District Court of Central California on Wednesday awarded a former Walmart pharmacist with $27 million in total damages, agreeing that the retail giant routinely denied her work breaks and overtime pay.

The case was originally filed by former Walmart pharmacist Afrouz Nikmanesh in Orange County Superior Court in 2015, but was later moved to the District Court of Central California.

Nikmanesh said Walmart told her to obtain her immunization certification, which would allow her to provide on-site immunizations to pharmacy patients, but refused to compensate her for the time she spent studying and preparing for the exam. She also claimed that getting the certification increased her workload several times over, but said Walmart refused to provide additional staffing to meet the increased demand.

“In most surveys, pharmacists rank as the 2nd most trusted professionals in America. However, can you really trust an overworked pharmacist that is deprived the opportunity to take a break to recharge before attending to patients’ needs, multiple doctor’s offices, and insurance companies, all while trying to stay within compliance of pharmacy laws and regulations?” asked Nikmanesh in a piece she published in 2015 about the case.

https://www.courthousenews.com/walmart-hit-with-27-million-judgment-in-class-action-for-denying-employees-work-breaks-and-overtime-pay/

[Sherman A1]

1. Good

$27M is pocket change to Walmart. I wish there was a big fine as well.

[samplegirl]

2. Yeah!

I hate Walmart!

[doc03]

3. I hate Walmart, they have destroyed this country with low wages and

cheap imported junk. I never shopped there unless I couldn't find something anywhere else. Now in this area
Walmart and Sam's are the only stores left, I am forced to go there. Montgomery Ward gone, Sears gone, JC Penny's gone, Macy's
gone, A&P gone, all the small business downtown is gone-----------------------------

[packman]

4. 27$mill - What is that? 1/2 day profits maybe

A big yawn from corporate HQ and laffing heard in the board rooms.

[Farmer-Rick]

5. So the Waltons get a little less of our national wealth

Geez they have so much of our national wealth that they can con, manipulate and cheat workers out the little they have. Capitalism at its best.

[lark]

6. Horrid lying company!

I never go there, they don't get the benefit of our money anymore.

[Merlot]

7. One pharmacist gets $27M - what about the rest of them?

Were their working conditions improved? Did walmart have to make any policy changes?

[quaint]

8. Class action.

[Merlot]

9. So you're saying this was a class action lawsuit?

If so, I was misled by the headline.

[quaint]

10. If not, I was misled by the url.

www.courthousenews.com/walmart-hit-with-27-million-judgment-in-class-action-for-denying-employees-work-breaks-and-overtime-pay/

After reading a few search results, I'm not certain.