FOLLOW US

A proposed class action filed Nov. 25 in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuses Warner Bros. Studio Operations and several affiliated companies of forcing California workers to labor through meal breaks, work unpaid overtime, and remain on call without compensation — a sweeping wage-and-hour complaint that paints the entertainment giant as repeatedly sidestepping state labor protections.

In her 24-page filing, plaintiff Jennifer Leiva Padilla alleges the studio violated numerous provisions of the California Labor Code by failing to pay nonexempt workers minimum wage, overtime, and legally required duty-free meal and rest periods.

Defendants include Warner Bros. Studio Operations, Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Media, and Warner Bros. Studio Facilities.

Claims of Unpaid On-Call Time and Mandatory Check-Ins

According to the complaint, Warner Bros. required Padilla and other nonexempt workers to call in to confirm whether they were needed the same day or the following day — a practice she says resulted in uncompensated on-call or standby time.

“Defendants failed to pay for on-call or standby time,” the complaint states, alleging Padilla often had to report to work after calling in, only to receive no compensation for the time she spent on alert.

The suit claims the company maintained a “regular practice” of denying pay for all hours worked, including overtime for shifts exceeding eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.

Security Checks, COVID Screenings, and Uniform Duties Go Unpaid, Suit Says

Padilla alleges nonexempt employees were also shorted for time spent performing tasks before and after their shifts — including security screenings, COVID-19 testing and checks, and the time required to put on and remove uniforms.

The complaint further claims Warner Bros. failed to reimburse business-related expenses such as mileage for required use of personal vehicles, cellphone costs, COVID-19 tests, and personal protective equipment mandated by the company.

Alleged Wage Statement Errors and Missing Final Pay

Padilla says wage statements routinely failed to accurately reflect hours worked, overtime earned, and premium pay owed for interrupted breaks. She alleges Warner Bros. knowingly issued inaccurate statements, including time-rounding entries that underreported hours.

Additionally, the complaint claims Warner Bros. did not provide timely final wages to employees who resigned or were terminated, a violation that forms another pillar of the suit.

Multiple Subclasses Proposed in Broad Class Action Bid

Padilla seeks to represent a California class covering all individuals employed by Warner Bros. in the state during the past four years. Her claims span more than eight subclasses, including:

• Minimum wage subclass

• Wages and overtime subclass

• Meal period subclass

• Rest break subclass

• Payroll records subclass

• Wage statement subclass

• Expense reimbursement subclass

• Termination pay subclass

• Unfair Competition Law subclass tied to restitution

The suit asks the court to certify the class and order the defendants to pay compensatory, statutory, general, special, and incidental damages, along with unreimbursed expenses, attorney fees, and litigation costs.

No Immediate Response From Parties

Representatives for Warner Bros. and the plaintiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Padilla is represented by Roman Shkodnik and Mason Doidge of D.Law Inc. Counsel for the defendants was not yet available.