Nine former and current Coca-Cola employees are suing the company, alleging it cheated workers out of millions of dollars' wages over the past four years.
The three class-action lawsuits also claim that Coke and its California subsidiaries retaliated against those who tried to stop the practice.
The suits, alleging the company owes workers at least $200 million are pending in the US Superior Court.
Mr Peter Santilli, a former district sales manager at a Coca-Cola sales center in Rancho Cucamonga, says he was fired after complaining that the company shaved thousands of dollars in overtime wages from the wages of its hourly employees.
Mr Santilli says he and other managers were expected to manipulate an electronic timekeeping system and edit out overtime hours worked by merchandisers. They typically earn $8 per hour restocking shelves with Coke products.
Other plaintiffs in the lawsuits claim they worked 11-hour days, only to be talked out of claiming overtime by company managers.
Mr Anthony Solis, 26, a former Coke merchandiser, said: "We'd get harassed. They'd tell me, 'I can send my mom out there and she'd have it done in eight hours. We need people who can do that.'"
A spokesman for Coca-Cola Bottling Co of Southern California, which owns the sales centre, denied the claims.
Spokesman Mr Bob Phillips told the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin: "We provide our employees with excellent compensation package in the marketplace.
"We're committed to creating an environment in the workplace where everyone is respected and valued and is compensated accordingly."
PA