SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Thursday addressed what he called a “serious problem” with a proposed wage-and-hour class action against Apple Inc., but suggested he’d allow the caseto proceed with a few tweaks.

Lawyers for a proposed class of Apple retail store workers are demanding compensation for time workers spent having their bags checked in post-shift security screenings. However, not every employee brought a bag to work every day, and those who did brought bags for different reasons.