Since March 12, there have been 517 lawsuits (including 61 class actions) filed against employers due to alleged labor and employment violations related to the coronavirus. The filings have increased rapidly over the past several months:
- 8 complaints from March 12 – 31;
- 52 complaints in April;
- 98 complaints in May;
- 141 complaints in June;
- 168 complaints in July; and
- 50 complaints as of August 13.
California is leading the way with 91 cases filed, with Florida (59), New Jersey (54), and New York (43) following closely behind. The most common complaints have focused on retaliation (168), wrongful termination (133), discrimination (109), and leaves of absence (102). The healthcare industry has been hardest hit by COVID-19 employment litigation with 114 alleged violations.
The data reported here is collected, reviewed, and categorized from state and federal litigation filings generally.
