$2.4M Guitar Center wage and hour violations class action settlement

Guitar Center has agreed to pay more than $2.4 million to resolve claims it violated California labor laws by failing to pay overtime wages, minimum wages, wages due upon termination and reimbursable expenses.

The Guitar Center settlement benefits Guitar Center employees who worked for the company between Jan. 11, 2020, and July 11, 2025.

The settlement also benefits Guitar Center employees who worked for the company between Jan. 11, 2022, and July 11, 2025, under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

According to the class action lawsuit, Guitar Center committed California wage and hour violations by failing to pay overtime wages, minimum wages, wages due upon termination and reimbursable expenses. The company also allegedly failed to provide meal periods, rest breaks and accurate itemized wage statements.

Guitar Center is a musical instrument retailer with locations across the country.

Guitar Center has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $2,418,495 class action settlement to resolve the allegations.

Under the terms of the Guitar Center settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on the number of workweeks they worked during the class period. Exact payment amounts will vary.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Sept. 1, 2026.

The final approval hearing for the wage and hour violations class action settlement is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2026.

No claim form is required to benefit from the settlement. Class members who do not exclude themselves will automatically receive a class action settlement payment. Class members who wish to dispute the number of workweeks and pay periods used to calculate their settlement payment must submit a challenge by Sept. 1, 2026.

The settlement benefits non-exempt Guitar Center employees who worked for the company between Jan. 11, 2020, and July 11, 2025.