Panera Bread agrees to pay US$5M to settle class-action suits filed by former employees who accused company of failing to pay overtime, provide breaks at some of its units in California

Nevin Barich

LOS ANGELES , November 22, 2011 (Industry Intelligence) – According to a regulatory filing, Panera Bread Co. has agreed to pay US$5 million to settle class-action suits filed by former employees who accused the company of failing to pay overtime and provide breaks at some of its units in California, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Nov. 21.

The settlement still requires approval in California Superior Court. Panera has denied liability and wrongdoing, and makes no admission of wrongdoing in connection with the proposed settlement.

In the lawsuits, former Panera workers alleged violations of the California Labor Code, failure to pay overtime, failure to provide meal and rest periods and "termination compensation," plus violations of California's Unfair Competition Law.

The primary source of this article is The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, on Nov. 21, 2011.

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