Newark HelloFresh workers sue over alleged physical abuse, ICE threats and mass layoffs
The lawsuit claims workers at the company's Newark facility were physically assaulted by supervisors, threatened with deportation, denied bathroom breaks, and subjected to harassment and discrimination.
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Meal kit company HelloFresh and three staffing agencies are facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that hundreds of workers at a Newark facility were physically assaulted by supervisors, threatened with deportation, denied bathroom breaks, subjected to harassment and discrimination, and laid off shortly before new state protections for temporary workers took effect.
The lawsuit names HelloFresh and staffing firms Action Staffing Group, On Target Staffing LLC and ProStaff Solutions Inc., which supplied temporary workers to the Newark facility. The amended complaint alleges the companies acted as joint employers and jointly controlled working conditions at the site.
According to court filings, approximately 400 temporary workers were laid off in August 2023, one day before New Jersey’s Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights took effect.
The lawsuit was originally filed in August 2024. A state court judge is scheduled to review the amended complaint Oct. 23.
Attorneys with Make the Road New Jersey and Outten & Golden LLP represent more than 400 workers from the facility.
"Our clients allege that HelloFresh and the staffing agencies subjected them to discrimination and abuse, then threatened to call ICE on those who spoke up," said Michael Scimone, a partner at Outten & Golden LLP. "The case illustrates how aggressive immigration enforcement has created a two-tier labor force, where employers treat some workers as though they have no rights. We are committed to holding HelloFresh accountable and ensuring the court hears these workers' claims."
According to the amended complaint, the staffing agencies maintained supervisors at the Newark facility and were aware of alleged physical and psychological abuse. The complaint further alleges the agencies "participated in HelloFresh's pattern of forced labor by telling Hispanic workers that they had to endure this abuse to avoid being deported."
The complaint includes claims under New Jersey’s WARN Act, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and the state’s Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection and Treatment Act. Plaintiffs are seeking damages, severance pay and class-action certification.
HelloFresh denied the allegations.
"Our frontline workforce is the foundation of our company, and ensuring a safe, fair, and respectful workplace is our highest priority," the company said in a statement.
The company said it conducted an internal investigation after learning of the allegations and found the claims to be without merit. HelloFresh also said it maintains anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, mandatory training programs and multiple reporting channels, including a confidential hotline for complaints.
