$2M Amazon Unpaid Wages Settlement Amazon Shorted Hourly Workers on Breaks and Wages Washington Employees May Get Paid

Amazon Retail LLC agreed to pay $2,000,000 to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of denying hourly workers their legally required meal and rest breaks in Washington state. The case covers all hourly employees at Amazon Retail in Washington between October 3, 2021, and October 27, 2025. No claim form is required — eligible workers receive payment automatically unless they opt out. The final approval hearing is set for May 22, 2026.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$2,000,000
Claim Deadline	No claim form required — automatic payment
Who Qualifies	Hourly Amazon Retail LLC employees in Washington state, Oct. 3, 2021 – Oct. 27, 2025
Minimum Payout	$50 guaranteed per class member
Proof Required	No
Settlement Status	Proposed — pending final court approval
Administrator	Simpluris
Official Website	arllcwagesettlement.com

Where Things Stand

• The opt-out and objection deadlines are both April 30, 2026. The final approval hearing takes place May 22, 2026, before Judge Timothy L. Ashcraft in Pierce County Superior Court.
• If the court approves the settlement and no appeal follows, payments are expected to go out within approximately 60 days of final approval. If there is an appeal, it could take a year or more.
• Amazon denies all wrongdoing. The court has not ruled on the merits of either side’s claims.

Washington Law Says Breaks Are Mandatory. Amazon Allegedly Ignored That.

Washington state requires employers to give hourly workers paid rest breaks and uninterrupted meal periods. Plaintiff Trishelle Garner, a former Amazon employee, claims Amazon Retail LLC failed to provide legally compliant meal and rest periods and failed to pay all wages owed as a result.

The lawsuit covers claims for missed, interrupted, shortened, untimely, or unpaid rest breaks and meal periods, as well as related claims for unpaid wages, overtime, premium payments, and interest.

Amazon disputed every allegation. Both sides ultimately chose to settle rather than take the case to trial, which the settlement documents describe as a way to avoid costs and deliver compensation to workers more quickly.

Who Gets a Check

You are automatically included in this settlement — and will receive payment without doing anything — if you meet all of the following:

• You worked for Amazon Retail LLC (not Amazon.com Inc. or another Amazon entity) in Washington state
• You held an hourly-paid position at any point between October 3, 2021, and October 27, 2025
• You do not submit a written opt-out request before April 30, 2026

If you received a notice from the settlement administrator, Amazon’s own payroll records confirmed your eligibility. If you believe you qualify but didn’t receive a notice, contact Simpluris directly at (888) 428-6671 or [email protected].

Related article: Prime Members Said Amazon Quietly Stopped Two-Day Delivery, A Judge Just Threw Out Their Lawsuit.

How Much You Can Expect

Every eligible worker who stays in the settlement receives at least $50. Beyond that minimum, the remaining funds in the class pool are distributed on a pro-rata basis — your share is calculated by dividing your total wages earned at Amazon during the class period by the total wages paid to all class members combined, then multiplying that ratio by the remaining settlement fund.

That means higher earners and longer-tenured workers receive larger checks. Here’s how the $2,000,000 total breaks down:

Allocation	Amount
Class Member Payments	~$1,263,333
Attorney’s Fees	Up to $666,667
Named Plaintiff Service Award	Up to $20,000
Settlement Administration	Up to $40,000
Litigation Costs	Up to $10,000

You Don’t Need to File Anything — But Read This First

You do not need to submit a claim form. As long as you do not opt out of the settlement, you will automatically receive your share of the class fund. Here’s what you should do between now and the final approval hearing:

Step 1 — Confirm your contact information is current. Checks go by mail. Log on to arllcwagesettlement.com or call (888) 428-6671 to update your address with Simpluris.

Step 2 — Decide whether you want to stay in or opt out. Staying in means you get paid but release your wage-and-hour claims against Amazon for this period. Opting out means no payment, but you keep the right to sue separately.

Step 3 — If opting out, mail your written request by April 30, 2026. Send a signed letter stating “I request that I be excluded from the Class in the case of Trishelle Garner v. Amazon Retail LLC,” with your name, address, and signature, to: Pierce County Clerk of Superior Court, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402.

Step 4 — If you want to object, also do so by April 30, 2026. Mail a written objection with your name, address, phone number, case name, reasons for objecting, and your signature to the same address above.

Step 5 — Wait for final approval. The hearing is May 22, 2026. If approved with no appeal, checks go out within about 60 days.

Estimated time to update your contact information: under 5 minutes.

Key Dates

Milestone	Date
Lawsuit Filed	October 2024
Class Period Start	October 3, 2021
Class Period End	October 27, 2025
Opt-Out Deadline	April 30, 2026
Objection Deadline	April 30, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	May 22, 2026
Expected Payment Date	~60 days after final approval (no appeal)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim?

 No. There is no claim form in this settlement. Class Counsel — James B. Pizl of Entente Law PLLC and Timothy W. Emery of Emery Reddy PC — represent all class members automatically. You will not be charged for their services. Hiring your own attorney is optional and entirely at your own cost.

Is this settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The case is Trishelle Garner v. Amazon Retail LLC, Pierce County Superior Court Civil Case No. 24-2-11344-0, overseen by Judge Timothy L. Ashcraft. The official settlement website at arllcwagesettlement.com is authorized by that court. Simpluris, a well-established class action administrator, manages the case.

When will I receive my payment?

 If the court grants final approval on May 22, 2026, and no one files an appeal within 30 days, payments are expected within approximately 60 days of that approval. An appeal could delay payments by a year or more.

What if I missed the claim deadline?

 There is no claim deadline in the traditional sense — you don’t file anything. As long as you do not submit an opt-out request by April 30, 2026, you remain in the class and will receive your payment automatically.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Yes, partially. Fifty percent of your settlement payment will be treated as wages, subject to normal tax withholding, and reported on a W-2. The remaining 50%, treated as penalties and interest, will not have taxes withheld but will be reported on a 1099-MISC. You are responsible for any additional tax obligations. Consult a tax professional if you have questions about your specific situation.

I worked for Amazon but not for “Amazon Retail LLC” — does this apply to me?

 This settlement covers Amazon Retail LLC specifically, not Amazon.com Services LLC or other Amazon entities. If you received a notice from Simpluris, Amazon’s own payroll records confirmed your eligibility. If you’re unsure which Amazon entity employed you, check your pay stubs or W-2 forms for the legal employer name.

Can I still sue Amazon separately if I stay in the settlement? 

No. By staying in the settlement, you release all wage-and-hour claims against Amazon Retail LLC — and its affiliates, successors, and related entities — for the entire class period from October 3, 2021, through October 27, 2025. If preserving your right to sue independently matters to you, opting out is your only option.

What happens to uncashed checks?

 If you don’t cash your check within 120 days of distribution, the funds transfer to Washington state’s Unclaimed Property Fund in your name under the Unclaimed Property Act. Amazon does not get to keep uncashed settlement money.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Website — arllcwagesettlement.com
• Settlement FAQ — Simpluris (Court-Authorized)

Last Updated: March 26, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.