Chico, California — A Chico resident has filed a lawsuit against The Save Mart Companies, alleging wage theft and violations of California labor laws.
Joseph Christiansen claims that the grocery chain misclassified him and other employees as exempt salaried workers to avoid paying overtime wages. He asserts that this misclassification allowed Save Mart to require employees to work over 40 hours weekly without additional pay.
Christiansen began working for Save Mart in 2000 and rose through the ranks to become a district supervisor. He states that the introduction of a new management structure in 2017 significantly altered the work environment. According to Christiansen, his duties included stocking shelves, cleaning, and bagging groceries—tasks unrelated to managerial responsibilities.
The legal team representing Christiansen explained that employees like him were required to spend most of their time on non-managerial tasks, failing to meet the criteria for exempt status. The lawsuit also alleges Save Mart denied meal and rest breaks and violated record-keeping regulations.
The class action lawsuit in Stanislaus County seeks compensation for unpaid wages and demands that Save Mart comply with labor laws. Christiansen emphasized the need for change, hoping others won’t endure similar hardships. Save Mart has not responded to requests for comment.
