In re Certified Tire & Serv. Ctrs. Wage & Hour Cases

**Certified Tire Workers Challenge Pay System, Court Rules in Company's Favor** This case involved auto technicians at Certified Tire and Service Centers who claimed the company's pay system violated California wage laws. The workers argued that their "Technician Compensation Program" didn't properly pay them for all hours worked and failed to provide required rest breaks. The technicians were paid based on a piece-rate system, earning money for each job completed rather than receiving a straight hourly wage. They sued, claiming this system meant they weren't paid minimum wage for time spent waiting between jobs or doing other non-billable work, and that they weren't properly compensated during mandatory rest periods. The court ruled in favor of Certified Tire. The judge found that the company's pay program actually did comply with California law because technicians received guaranteed minimum wages for all hours worked, including time when they weren't actively working on cars. The court also determined that workers were properly paid during their required rest breaks. **What this means for workers:** Even if you're paid per job completed rather than by the hour, your employer must still ensure you receive at least minimum wage for all time at work, including downtime and rest breaks.