United States U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ordered Apple Inc. to pay over time they have to wait until someone checks their bags and personal electronic devices.

That could be in millions!

US media reported that U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling means Apple could have to pay millions of dollars to the more than 12,000 retail employees who work in Apple Stores around the state for the time their personal materials are checked prior to leaving after their shifts.

Apple’s Argument

Apple had argued that employees could avoid going through such a bag check if they just didn’t bring any personal bags or electronic devices into work.

The Cupertino-based company won at the trial level in U.S. District Court on that argument, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sent the case to state courts because California law was in play.

The case against Apple brought by Kralowec Law P.C.. In California, more than 12,400 employees who worked at an Apple story from July 25 to the present were part of the class.

Steven Katz, a partner in the Los Angeles office of the law firm Constangy, Smith, Brooks & Prophete, said the decision could have a big impact on California’s approximately 3 million retail workers.

“As many as half of them are probably directly affected by the new decision,” said Katz, who was not involved in the litigation.

Most retailers with a significant size have similar policies to Apple’s, where the intent is to ensure employees don’t steal merchandise.