Labor officials from California are reviewing Wal-mart's compliance with meal break requirements. Wal-mart maintains that this is a routine compliance review. Wal-mart has been subject to several lawsuits over wages and hours. In these lawsuits employees claim that they were forced to skip meal breaks and work "off the clock". It is not yet clear whether the labor department will investigate all claims, but if it is found that laws have been violated Wal-mart could be forced to pay back employees.
See "Wal-Mart Is Subject of State Labor Probe", Lisa Girion, Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2003