“UPS built its holiday business on the backs of workers who were not paid for their time and labor,” James said in a statement. “UPS’s seasonal employees work brutal hours in the cold to deliver the holiday packages families across the country count on. Instead of compensating these workers fairly for their labor, UPS has played the Grinch. I am fighting to get these workers their money back and stop UPS from continuing its cruel and unlawful wage theft.”
New York has filed a lawsuit against United Parcel Service, or UPS, claiming that the company “repeatedly and persistently” steals wages from thousands of seasonal delivery workers.
In a press release, New York Attorney General Letitia James said that her office recently concluded an investigation into UPS and its labor practices. Investigators purportedly found that United Parcel Service regularly shortchanged seasonal holiday workers by “failing to record all hours worked, requiring widespread off-the-clock labor, and manipulating timekeeping systems to reduce paid hours.” James believes that the effect of these practices could constitute millions of dollars in unpaid and stolen wages.
“UPS built its holiday business on the backs of workers who were not paid for their time and labor,” James said in a statement. “UPS’s seasonal employees work brutal hours in the cold to deliver the holiday packages families across the country count on. Instead of compensating these workers fairly for their labor, UPS has played the Grinch. I am fighting to get these workers their money back and stop UPS from continuing its cruel and unlawful wage theft.”
The state notes that, in interviews with investigators, some seasonal workers said that they were asked to report to UPS facilities and roadside meet-ups points. Oftentimes, these workers waited for hours to receive assignments before being sent home without pay. They also describe “going unpaid for time spent traveling between assignments, watching required training videos, returning undelivered packages, and handing in equipment at the end of their jobs.”
“Workers often reported to work at the start of their shifts only to discover that the packages or drivers needed to begin deliveries had not yet arrived. During these delays, they would frequently perform other tasks – such as preparing vehicles, loading packages, or traveling between meeting points – but none of this labor was recorded or compensated. Many seasonal workers logged more than 40 hours a week during peak holiday periods, yet UPS failed to provide legally required overtime pay,” James’s office said in a press release announcing the lawsuit. “Workers were also forced to clock out before completing assignments and were denied wages for mandatory training, work performed during supposed meal breaks, and other required tasks that UPS failed to record as compensable time.”
James’s office claims that these practices “constitute clear violations of New York labor law, including the state’s minimum wage, promised wage, overtime, wage-statement, and recordkeeping requirements.”
UPS has since denied any and all wrongdoing.
“We are aware of the lawsuit by the New York Attorney’s General Office [sic],” UPS said in a statement. “UPS takes all accusations of wrongdoing seriously and denies the unfounded allegation of intentionally underpaying UPS employees. We offer industry-leading pay and benefits to our more than 26,000 employees in New York, and we remain committed to following all applicable laws.”
The lawsuit seeks back pay for eligible UPS workers in New York, as well as a court order prohibiting the company from requiring off-the-clock work. If successful, the lawsuit could also compel UPS to revise its timekeeping and payroll practices.
Sources
Attorney General James Sues UPS for Cheating Seasonal Workers Out of Millions of Dollars
New York accuses UPS of stealing wages from thousands of seasonal workers
N.Y. attorney general sues UPS over alleged cheating seasonal workers out of millions in pay
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