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Take a Seat: WalMart to Pay $65 Million to Resolve Suitable Seating Dispute


A few weeks ago, it was announced that WalMart agreed to pay $65 million to resolve a case brought against the company in regard to a California law which requires employers in the state to allow their employees to sit “whenever the nature of the work reasonably permits”.  While the law has been in place since 1911, it has been amended and expanded several times throughout the years.  (Bear in mind that WalMart is not the only employer to have been confronted with a suitable seating case as CVS, Home Depot, and Target, among others, have dealt with related claims in recent years).

In this instance, suit was filed in 2009 when a WalMart employee alleged that the company was in violation of the state’s suitable seating requirement.  The company based part of its argument on the idea that the nature of work performed by its cashiers does not reasonably permit the use of a seat as the cashiers would need to be able to move around, greet customers, and look inside carts, among other tasks.  Having cashiers that were seated presumably would not enable them to effectively perform their job, under WalMart’s argument.  Although WalMart denied any wrongdoing, the settlement was reached in an effort to avoid further cost and expense associated with a trial (that was set for later this year).  Under the proposed settlement, nearly 100,000 current and former WalMart cashiers would be able to receive a portion of the settlement.   (The payout per employee would vary, but it is expected that some longtime cashiers could receive upwards of $1,000/each).  Before the $65 million settlement can become final, however, it must be approved by a federal judge.

One of the more noteworthy portions of the settlement, besides the proposed $65 million, is the fact that WalMart has agreed to start a test program in which it would provide a stool for any WalMart cashier in California “who expresses a desire to use them”.  As well, the company has agreed that it would not discriminate or retaliate against any employee that chose to use a stool.

Something tells me that WalMart is not the last employer to be hit with a suitable seating lawsuit.  In the interim, it will be interesting to see whether the Judge approves the proposed settlement terms.


For additional information:  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart-settlement-20181012-story.html

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