A lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court accuses The Walt Disney Company of systematically underpaying maintenance workers at its Southern California hotels. Filed by an assistant maintenance engineer, Charlie Torres, on behalf of more than 100 current and former workers, the lawsuit alleges various violations of state labor laws.

Among the allegations, Disney is accused of requiring workers to provide their own hand tools and equipment without paying double the minimum wage rate, as mandated by state labor law for employers who do not supply necessary tools. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Disney failed to provide rest breaks or meal breaks and did not pay correct overtime rates.

The lawsuit, brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), seeks both back wages and civil penalties on behalf of the affected workers and the state of California. PAGA claims allow workers to file lawsuits against their employers without the same notification and certification requirements as typical class-action suits.

According to the lawsuit, Disney’s actions have resulted in persistent underpayment of mechanical engineers, affecting overtime rates and premiums for missed rest or meal periods on wage statements owed to the plaintiff and other members of the proposed class.

A lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court accuses The Walt Disney Company of systematically underpaying maintenance workers at its Southern California hotels. Filed by an assistant maintenance engineer, Charlie Torres, on behalf of more than 100 current and former workers, the lawsuit alleges various violations of state labor laws.

Among the allegations, Disney is accused of requiring workers to provide their own hand tools and equipment without paying double the minimum wage rate, as mandated by state labor law for employers who do not supply necessary tools. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Disney failed to provide rest breaks or meal breaks and did not pay correct overtime rates.

The lawsuit, brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), seeks both back wages and civil penalties on behalf of the affected workers and the state of California. PAGA claims allow workers to file lawsuits against their employers without the same notification and certification requirements as typical class-action suits.

According to the lawsuit, Disney’s actions have resulted in persistent underpayment of mechanical engineers, affecting overtime rates and premiums for missed rest or meal periods on wage statements owed to the plaintiff and other members of the proposed class.

Ron Zambrano, an attorney representing Torres, criticized Disney for its alleged failure to provide basic tools despite being a massive company familiar with the law. The lawsuit seeks at least $1 million in back pay.

This legal challenge adds to Disney’s ongoing legal woes, as the entertainment giant faces a gender pay-equity lawsuit filed in 2019. In December, a Los Angeles judge granted certification to a class-action of nearly 9,000 women who allege they were paid less than their male counterparts.

Disney has not yet responded to requests for comment on the recent lawsuit. As the legal proceedings unfold, the company may face increased scrutiny over its employment practices and wage policies, potentially impacting its reputation and financial standing.