Washington Wage-and-Hour Class Action Filed Against Key Technology, Inc.

A new class action lawsuit highlights common wage-and-hour issues in the manufacturing industry across Washington State. The lawsuit against Key Technology, Inc., a food processing machinery manufacturer operating in Walla Walla County, alleges the company failed to properly pay its non-exempt, hourly employees.

According to the complaint, staffing conditions and scheduling demands regularly prevented fabricators and other non-exempt employees from taking legally required meal and rest breaks. Employees allegedly worked through their meal and rest periods to meet the company’s work requirements and were not compensated with the additional premium pay owed for missed breaks.

The complaint also alleges that employees were required to perform unpaid pre- and post-shift work, including donning and doffing required protective equipment, without compensation. It further claims the company failed to pay proper overtime for hours worked over 40 in a week and failed to pay all wages owed upon employees’ termination. The lawsuit alleges these violations were willful and part of a company-wide policy — including a cap on hourly wage payments regardless of actual hours worked and paystubs that did not accurately reflect all regular and overtime hours — rather than the result of clerical error.

The case seeks to proceed as a class action on behalf of current and former non-exempt, hourly employees of Key Technology, Inc. in Washington State from three years prior to filing through final resolution.