Amazon Under Fire Again: Company Accused of Wage Theft in New Lawsuit

Case Overview: A new class action lawsuit is taking on Amazon, alleging the company failed to pay employees for mandatory orientation and training, violating labor laws.

Consumers Affected: Hourly, non-exempt employees who were not paid for mandatory training at Amazon.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

A former Amazon warehouse worker has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming it failed to pay employees for mandatory orientation and onboarding before their first scheduled shift. 

The lawsuit, filed in California, alleges Amazon violated state labor laws by requiring new hires to complete unpaid training sessions—giving the company an unfair financial advantage while shortchanging employees. The lawsuit argues that Amazon’s policies deprived workers of wages they were legally entitled to, adding to the growing number of legal challenges the retail giant faces over its treatment of employees.

Amazon Accused of Failing to Pay for Mandatory Training

California resident Robert Fodor filed the proposed class action company against the company after working as an hourly, non-exempt employee at an Amazon warehouse in Orland, California, for about a month in late 2023. The lawsuit claims that before starting his first scheduled shift, Fodor and other new hires were required to attend a “New Hire Event” at an Amazon facility.

This onboarding session, lasting at least 30 minutes, included job training, work-related presentations, and the creation of employee ID badges. According to the lawsuit, these activities were conducted under Amazon’s control and for its benefit—but employees were not compensated for their time.

Fodor argues that Amazon’s failure to pay for this required training violates California labor laws, which mandate that employees be paid for all hours worked, including time spent under an employer’s control.

Lawsuit Alleges Amazon Violated California Wage Laws

As the lawsuit states, California law defines “hours worked” as any time an employee is under an employer’s control, whether or not they are performing traditional job duties. The lawsuit claims that by requiring new employees to attend unpaid onboarding sessions, Amazon failed to meet its obligations under state labor codes.

Specifically, the suit cites violations of California Labor Code, which require employers to pay all wages owed immediately upon termination or within 72 hours if an employee quits. Since Amazon allegedly did not compensate employees for their orientation time, the lawsuit argues that the company owes wages—plus penalties that could accumulate for up to 30 days after an employee’s separation.

The lawsuit also accuses Amazon of failing to provide accurate wage statements, making it difficult for employees to track missing wages. If successful, the case could result in back pay, penalties, and legal fees for affected workers.

Amazon Faces Other Lawsuits Over Labor Practices

This lawsuit is just the latest in a series of legal challenges Amazon has faced over labor practices. The company has repeatedly been accused of underpaying workers, imposing excessive productivity quotas, and violating wage transparency laws.

Two recent class action lawsuits in Washington claim Amazon unfairly restricts former employees’ job opportunities and fails to provide clear wage information. In California, the company was fined nearly $6 million for placing unrealistic productivity demands on warehouse workers. Amazon also recently settled a case in Illinois over allegations that it improperly collected and shared employees’ biometric data without their consent.

In his class action lawsuit, Fodor wants to represent anyone who applied for an hourly, non-exempt job position with Amazon across the country and wasn’t paid for training. He is suing for violations of the state’s Labor Codes and seeking damages, costs, fees, and interest.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Fodor v. Amazon.com Inc., et al.
• Case Number: 3:25-cv-01738-LB 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Cody R. Kennedy and Tatiana Avakian (Marlin & Saltzman, LLP)
• Peter M. Hart and Ashlie E. Fox (Law Offices Of Peter M. Hart)
• Larry W. Lee, Kristen M. Agnew, Max W. Gavron, and Kwanporn “Mai” Tulyathan (Diversity Law Group, P.C.)

Have you worked for Amazon? Were you paid for your orientation and training? Share your experience in the comments below.