Lawsuit alleges Apple shortchanges store workers

A proposed class-action lawsuit alleges Apple has been mistreating thousands of employees who haven’t been paid while forced to wait in line to show they aren’t trying to steal an iPhone, iPad or other merchandise from the company’s bustling stores.

The complaint filed July 25 in a San Francisco federal court threatens to increase public scrutiny of Apple’s relationships with the lower-paid contractors and employees who make and sell its products.

The lawsuit filed by two former employees in Apple’s stores alleges they and their co-workers regularly had to wait to have their bags and other belongings searched before they could leave the premises. The suit alleges the policy often detained them an additional 15 to 30 minutes per shift without compensation.

Apple declined to comment.