Westat Faces Class Action Over Alleged Labor Code Violations in California

The complaint, filed under Case No. 26CV497831, outlines a broad pattern of alleged labor violations impacting the company's workforce. According to the court filing, Westat allegedly required staff to work through scheduled breaks and manipulated time-keeping records—specifically by rounding meal period durations—to bypass statutory penalty payments. The legal action further claims the defendant failed to compensate employees for overtime, sick leave, and minimum wage requirements mandated by California Labor Code sections 201-203, 226, 510, and 2802, among others.

Beyond the missed breaks, the lawsuit targets the firm's payroll practices, asserting that workers were frequently denied accurate itemized wage statements and reimbursement for business-related expenses. The plaintiffs argue that these practices, occurring during shifts exceeding five hours, constitute a clear breach of state labor protections. The law firm, which maintains offices across California and in Chicago, is currently representing the class in seeking civil penalties for the alleged conduct.