Working Through Your Break Could Be Costing You Money: How Missed Meal and Rest Breaks Can Lead to Unpaid Overtime in Washington
Many employees in Seattle and throughout Washington assume that if they skip lunch, eat at their desk, or continue responding to emails during a break, they’re simply “working hard.” But under Washington law, working through a meal or rest break can have serious wage and hour implications – including unpaid overtime claims. For employees who regularly work through breaks, those extra minutes and hours can add up quickly. In some cases, workers may be owed significant backpay. Washington Employers Must Provide Meal and Rest Breaks Washington has strong worker protections when it comes to breaks. In most industries, non-exempt employees are generally entitled to: A paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked, and An unpaid 30-minute meal break
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Your Right to Work a Second Job in Washington – And When Employers Cross the Line
In today’s economy, many workers rely on more than one source of income. Whether it’s a second job, freelance work, or a side business, Washington law protects your ability to earn a living. One of the most important statutes for employees on this issue is RCW 49.62.070, often referred to as Washington’s “moonlighting law.” If your employer has told you that you can’t work another job, this law may give you powerful legal rights. And importantly, violations of this statute often extend beyond a single employee – making them especially well-suited for class action lawsuits. What Is RCW 49.62.070? RCW 49.62.070 is part of Washington’s broader effort to limit overly restrictive employment practices. The statute protects lower-wage employees from being
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What Is House Bill 1155 and How Does It Affect Non-Compete Agreements in Washington?
Non-compete agreements have long been a controversial tool used by employers to restrict where employees can work after leaving a job. In Washington, however, those restrictions are soon becoming a thing of the past as Washington state has enacted a near-total ban on non-compete agreements under House Bill 1155. The bill was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on March 23, 2026, and will go into effect on June 30, 2027. What Is House Bill 1155? HB 1155 (HB 1155) is a sweeping piece of legislation that virtually bans all non-compete agreements between companies and employees and independent contractors in Washington. Unlike prior laws that limited non-competes based on salary thresholds or duration, HB 1155 goes much further. The law provides that: All non-compete
Read MoreSOLTEZ, ET. AL VS. HOBAN AND ASSOCIATES DBA COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Washington Wage-and-Hour Class Action Filed Against Property Management Company A new class action lawsuit highlights common wage-and-hour issues in the property management industry across Washington State. The lawsuit was filed by a former maintenance supervisor against Coast Property Management, alleging the company failed to properly pay hourly employees working at apartment communities throughout Washington. According to the complaint, property management employees—including maintenance staff and on-site workers—were regularly required to work through legally required meal and rest breaks due to chronic understaffing. The lawsuit further alleges that employees were not paid overtime even when they worked more than 40 hours per week, that wages were capped regardless of actual hours worked, and that paystubs failed to accurately reflect all time worked.
Read MoreWRIGHTMAN VS. ARAMARK
Matthew Wrightman has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Aramark, alleging that the company routinely violated Washington wage-and-hour laws for hourly employees across the state. The complaint claims Aramark failed to provide legally required meal and rest breaks, did not pay required premium pay when those breaks were missed or interrupted, and failed to pay overtime when total compensable work time exceeded 40 hours in a week. It also alleges that Seattle-based workers were subjected to last-minute schedule changes and canceled shifts without the predictability pay required by Seattle’s Secure Scheduling Ordinance. The lawsuit seeks to represent all non-exempt Aramark employees in Washington (with a Seattle subclass), and requests unpaid wages, break premiums, overtime, statutory penalties, and double damages
Read MoreHigley v Sportsman’s Warehouse
Higley v. Sportsman’s Warehouse, Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for King County, NO. 24-2-16440-5 KNT. About this Case: In this class action case, Kjersten Higley, on behalf of herself and similarly situated employees, alleges wage and hour violations by Sportsman’s Warehouse, Inc. The plaintiff claims the company systematically denied non-exempt employees meal and rest breaks, required them to work through these breaks to meet scheduling demands, and failed to properly compensate for overtime work exceeding 40 hours per week. Additionally, employees were required to use personal cell phones for work-related tasks without reimbursement, resulting in unlawful wage deductions. The case seeks recovery of unpaid wages, claiming Sportsman’s Warehouse violated several Washington state labor laws. Higley, a
Read MoreMannin v Cambridge Management
Plaintiff Donya Mannin, representing herself and other similarly affected employees, accuses Cambridge Management, Inc. of alleged violations of wage and hour laws. The lawsuit alleges that Cambridge Management engaged in wage and hour violations, including the failure to provide meal and rest breaks, failure to pay overtime for hours worked beyond 40 per week, and improper deductions from wages. The plaintiff, a former Community Manager, claims that Cambridge’s policies forced employees to work through breaks and failed to compensate them fairly. The class action seeks to represent all hourly-paid or non-exempt employees working for Cambridge in Washington over the past three years. The suit accuses Cambridge of violating various Washington State labor laws, including failing to pay minimum wages, overtime,
Read MoreUnderwood v Star protection Agency
Underwood v. Star Protection Agency, Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for King County, NO. 24-2-20175-1. About this Case: In the class action case filed in the Superior Court of Washington, plaintiff Dylan Underwood, on behalf of himself and similarly situated employees, alleges that Star Protection Agency, LLC engaged in wage and hour violations. The lawsuit claims that Star Protection Agency failed to provide legally mandated meal and rest breaks, did not compensate employees for using personal vehicles and cell phones for work, and did not pay overtime for hours worked beyond 40 hours per week. These unlawful policies allegedly affected non-exempt employees, such as security officers, across Washington State. The plaintiff seeks damages for unpaid wages
Read MoreMartinez v Comprehensive Healthcare
In a class action lawsuit filed in Yakima County Superior Court, Ramiro Martinez, on behalf of himself and similarly situated employees, alleges that Comprehensive Health Care, a Washington-based non-profit, engaged in widespread wage and hour violations. The lawsuit claims that the organization systematically denied non-exempt employees, including case managers, nursing assistants, and other healthcare staff, required meal and rest breaks, forcing them to work through breaks to meet job demands. Additionally, the suit alleges that employees were not properly compensated for overtime, received inaccurate pay stubs, and were not paid the state-mandated minimum wage. The case seeks compensation for unpaid wages, penalties for missed breaks, and attorney’s fees, citing violations of Washington State labor laws. The suit contends that these
Read MoreCamby v Janicki Industries
In a class action lawsuit filed in Skagit County Superior Court, Daniel Camby, a former mechanic at Janicki Industries, along with other non-exempt employees, accuses the company of wage and hour violations. The plaintiffs claim Janicki Industries, which operates in aerospace, defense, and other industries, systematically denied meal and rest breaks, failed to pay overtime, and engaged in unlawful pay practices. The class action seeks damages for unpaid wages, meal and rest break violations, and penalties under Washington labor laws. The plaintiffs aim to recover compensation for these violations and prevent further unlawful practices by Janicki Industries.
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