Oregon McDonald’s Workers Lawsuit, You Could Get $872 from This Meal Break Settlement—But Only If You File by March 8, 2026

Did your Oregon McDonald’s shift get cut short on lunch but you didn’t get paid? UTB Enterprises and Goldenband LLC agreed to a $3.55 million class action settlement (Case No. 20CV29671, Circuit Court of Oregon, Multnomah County) after employees claimed unpaid meal breaks under 30 minutes during six-hour shifts. If you worked hourly at their McDonald’s franchises in Hillsboro, Beaverton, or Portland areas after March 8, 2014, you’re owed money.

What Is the McDonald’s Meal Break Class Action Settlement About?

Two McDonald’s franchisees violated Oregon wage and hour laws by not paying workers for short meal breaks. When your lunch lasted 25, 20, or 15 minutes but the system clocked you out for 30, that’s wage theft under Oregon employment law.

The $3.55 million McDonald’s wage and hour settlement covers thousands of hourly employees who had unpaid meal periods shorter than 30 minutes during shifts of six hours or more.

Oregon requires 30 consecutive minutes for meal breaks—any interruption means the entire period must be paid. The franchisees denied wrongdoing but settled to avoid trial.

McDonald’s Class Action Settlement Oregon: Who Qualifies?

You’re eligible if all three apply:

• You worked hourly at a McDonald’s operated by UTB Enterprises, Goldenband LLC, Donald D. Armstrong, or Lori Armstrong
• You worked anytime after March 8, 2014
• You had unpaid meal periods shorter than 30 minutes during shifts of six hours or more

This covers franchise locations primarily in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area, including Beaverton and surrounding Washington County locations. Corporate McDonald’s stores don’t qualify—only these specific franchisees.

$3.55 Million McDonald’s Wage Theft Settlement: Payment Breakdown

Everyone in the class gets the $31.14 base payment automatically. To receive the higher McDonald’s unpaid meal break Oregon settlement amount, you must submit a claim form with employment details.

Critical McDonald’s Settlement Deadlines

• January 7, 2026: Last day to opt out or object to settlement terms
• March 8, 2026: FINAL CLAIM FORM DEADLINE
• March 27, 2026: Court holds final approval hearing

Miss the March 8 deadline and you forfeit the extra $841.35. Even if you qualify for $872.49, you’ll only receive the automatic $31.14 payment.

How to File Your McDonald’s Meal Break Settlement Claim

Online (Fastest): Visit UTBGoldenbandClassAction.com and submit digitally

By Mail: South v. Armstrong Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 5129 Portland, OR 97208-5129

Questions?

• Phone: 833-419-0987
• Email: [email protected]

You’ll need: employment dates, which McDonald’s location you worked at (Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland area), and details about your hours and short meal breaks.

Why Oregon Meal Break Laws Protect Restaurant Workers

Oregon’s wage and hour regulations require 30 consecutive minutes for meal breaks—partial breaks don’t count. If your manager interrupted your lunch to help a customer, the entire period becomes paid time under Oregon employment law.

This isn’t optional. Oregon courts have ruled repeatedly that employers can’t automatically deduct 30 minutes when actual break length was shorter. Even if you agreed to skip lunch, the franchisees still had legal obligations to pay you or provide the full break.

Oregon labor laws give employees up to six years to file wage claims for unpaid breaks. This settlement covers that full period back to March 2014.

Evidence You Need for Your Claim

The settlement administrator verifies claims against company payroll records. Provide accurate information about:

• Exact employment dates (start and end)
• Specific McDonald’s location(s) where you worked
• Approximate number of shifts with short unpaid meal breaks
• Your hourly wage during employment

Don’t have old pay stubs? The franchisees kept records. Accurate dates and location details help process your Oregon McDonald’s wage violation claim faster.

The Reality Behind McDonald’s Unpaid Meal Break Violations

This lawsuit exposed a common fast food wage theft practice: automatically deducting 30 minutes for lunch regardless of actual break length.

Here’s how it worked: Managers clocked employees out at noon for “lunch,” then called them back to the register after 20 minutes during rushes. The timekeeping system still deducted the full half-hour from paychecks.

Multiply that by hundreds of Portland-area McDonald’s workers over 10+ years, and wage violations add up to $3.55 million in stolen wages.

Your Rights Under Oregon Employment Law

Meal Break Requirements:

• 30 consecutive minutes for shifts over 6 hours
• Must be relieved of all duties
• Interruptions make entire break paid time
• No waivers allowed for most workers

Wage Theft Penalties: Beyond lost wages, Oregon law allows civil penalties of up to 30 days of wages at eight hours per day at your hourly rate. Employers who violate meal break rules must pay employee legal costs and attorney fees.

This protects workers from having to pay lawyers out of pocket for restaurant meal break laws Oregon violations.

What Happens After March 27, 2026 Final Approval

If the judge approves the settlement, checks mail 60-90 days later (approximately June 2026). All class members get notified by mail, but don’t wait—file your claim online now to avoid the deadline rush.

Any leftover settlement funds go to Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Northwest Workers’ Justice Project. Nothing returns to the franchisees.

Similar McDonald’s Wage and Hour Settlements

McDonald’s has faced multiple wage-and-hour class actions nationwide:

• California: $26 million settlement for meal break violations, off-the-clock work, and uniform expense failures
• New York: $18 million for unpaid wages and overtime violations
• Pennsylvania: McDonald’s franchisees paid $3.75 million for similar meal break claims

These cases established important precedent: franchise companies can’t hide behind independent contractor status when they control employee policies and timekeeping systems.

Courts have ruled that franchise agreements giving McDonald’s corporate control over labor practices can create joint employer liability for wage violations.

Fast Food Wage Theft Settlement FAQs

Do I need a lawyer to file a McDonald’s settlement claim?

No. The claim form is simple and free to submit at UTBGoldenbandClassAction.com. Class counsel already negotiated the settlement terms.

What if I don’t remember my exact McDonald’s employment dates?

Estimate as close as possible. The settlement administrator has payroll records from UTB Enterprises and Goldenband LLC to verify.

Can McDonald’s fire me for filing a claim?

Oregon law prohibits retaliation against employees for reporting wage violations. If you’re fired, demoted, or punished for filing, you have a separate legal claim under Oregon employment law.

What if I worked at multiple Oregon McDonald’s locations?

File one claim covering all your employment with UTB Enterprises, Goldenband, Donald D. Armstrong, or Lori Armstrong locations in the Portland-Hillsboro-Beaverton area.

Do I pay taxes on settlement money?

Settlement payments for lost wages are taxable income. You’ll receive a 1099 form for 2026 tax filing.

What if I moved out of Oregon?

Doesn’t matter. If you worked at these franchises during the class period (after March 8, 2014), you qualify regardless of current address.

Can I opt out and sue separately for unpaid meal breaks?

Yes, but you must notify the settlement administrator by January 7, 2026. Most workers get more money staying in the class settlement than pursuing individual Oregon wage theft claims.

How long does it take to get paid after filing?

If the court approves the settlement on March 27, 2026, expect checks 60-90 days later (June 2026).

Oregon Restaurant Wage Law: What Employers Must Know

This settlement sends a message to fast food employers across Oregon: meal break violations come with real consequences. State wage and hour laws protect restaurant workers from:

• Automatic meal break deductions when actual break time was shorter
• Off-the-clock work during supposed break periods
• Pressure to skip breaks during busy shifts
• Retaliation for reporting wage theft

Oregon employment attorneys have successfully pursued hundreds of similar meal break violation claims against restaurants, coffee shops, and fast food chains throughout the Portland metro area.

The Bottom Line on the McDonald’s Oregon Settlement

This $3.55 million class action settlement puts money back in workers’ pockets for a common wage violation: unpaid short meal breaks. Oregon’s strong labor protections make cases like this possible when employers cut corners on employee rights.

If you worked hourly at UTB Enterprises or Goldenband LLC McDonald’s franchises in the Hillsboro, Beaverton, or Portland area after March 2014, don’t leave money on the table.

File your claim at UTBGoldenbandClassAction.com before March 8, 2026.

The $31.14 comes automatically, but getting the full $872.49 requires action. Ten minutes to fill out a form could mean nearly $900 in your account by summer 2026.

Important Case Details:

• Case Name: South, et al. v. Armstrong, et al.
• Case Number: 20CV29671
• Court: Circuit Court of Oregon, Multnomah County
• Settlement Amount: $3.55 million
• Claim Deadline: March 8, 2026
• Final Hearing: March 27, 2026
• Settlement Website: UTBGoldenbandClassAction.com
• Phone: 833-419-0987

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About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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