Apple to pay $30 mn to store workers forced to submit to bag checks

Apple Inc. agreed to pay $29.9 million to employees at its stores who were forced to submit to security bag checks — off the clock — when they left work after or during their shifts.

Lawyers for the workers asked a federal judge on Friday to approve the settlement, which was reached after a protracted eight-year legal battle.

Apple Store employees filed the class-action lawsuit in 2013, claiming the company was violating California law by not paying them for the time it took to check their bags.

Apple claimed the bag searches were necessary to make sure workers were not hiding stolen electronic devices in their bags and argued in court that anyone who didn’t like the policy could choose not to bring bags to work.