McDonald's Australia faces a Federal Court trial over allegations of systematically denying paid rest breaks to hundreds of thousands of workers.
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) launched the class-action lawsuit. The suit claims McDonald's and its franchisees breached enterprise agreements and industry awards.
Specifically, the company allegedly refused workers their entitled 10-minute breaks. This denial affected shifts of four hours or more.
The trial commenced in late May 2026. The trial will run for nine weeks. More than 100 witnesses will testify.
The SDA seeks compensation for all affected current and former employees. The union also demands financial penalties against McDonald's and its franchisees.
The case scrutinizes the company's franchisee compliance and oversight systems.