Serve Robotics Inc., a California-based company specializing in autonomous sidewalk delivery and partnered with Uber Eats, has been hit with a proposed class-action lawsuit. Former operations coordinator Kevin Masuda filed the suit Tuesday in Los Angeles state court, accusing the company of wage violations, including failing to provide proper compensation, meal breaks, and rest periods.

Allegations of Unpaid Work and Miscalculated Wages

Masuda claims Serve Robotics improperly excluded nondiscretionary bonuses and other compensation when calculating employees’ pay, which affected overtime and meal break premiums. He also alleges that employees were frequently required to work off the clock, such as retrieving equipment from storage and answering questions after clocking out, without receiving compensation.

Additionally, the lawsuit contends that Serve Robotics failed to provide duty-free 30-minute meal breaks for every five consecutive hours worked and lacked adequate policies for ensuring proper rest periods.

Broader Implications for Serve Robotics

Masuda, who worked for the company from 2021 until September 2024, describes his experience as “typical and illustrative” of the broader issues faced by Serve Robotics’ employees. His suit seeks to represent a class of over 100 nonexempt employees who have worked for the company in the past four years.

The claims include failure to:

• Pay minimum wage and overtime
• Provide accurate wage statements
• Reimburse work-related expenses
• Offer meal and rest breaks as required under California labor laws

Serve Robotics, founded in 2017, touts itself as a leader in autonomous food delivery solutions. The company has not yet commented on the allegations.

Legal Representation and Next Steps

Masuda is represented by Kane Moon, Allen Feghali, Lilit Ter-Astvatsatryan, and Holly Williams of Moon Law Group PC. Counsel information for Serve Robotics was not immediately available.

If successful, the lawsuit could result in significant financial penalties for Serve Robotics and prompt changes to its labor practices.

California’s Strict Labor Laws at Play

This case underscores the complexities of compliance with California’s labor laws, which set stringent standards for wage calculations and employee breaks. Companies in the tech and gig economy, like Serve Robotics, have increasingly come under scrutiny for how they treat nonexempt workers.