Enterprise Rental Cars Sued

Enterprise Leasing Company is facing legal action after the company allegedly violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act). It was accused of doing so after terminating hundreds of employees without cause or any advanced written notice amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the Middle District of Florida in late May.

According to Elva Benson, the named plaintiff in the suit, employees were terminated without any warning despite Enterprise knowing the company was experiencing financial difficulties. The lawsuit claims that Benson, who worked at Enterprise’s Orlando airport location, was terminated after several weeks of company furloughs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The terminations came without warning and were done through a mass layoff.

The WARN Act requires businesses to provide at least 60 days written notice when there are going to be more than 50 employees terminated within any 30-day period. Benson emphasized in her lawsuit that Enterprise had the option of using the government-sponsored Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that would have enabled it to meet payroll demands, despite the drop in business. The company instead chose to terminate employees instead of seeking financial assistance from the federal government.

There is no word whether any employees will be hired back once the economy begins to open and Enterprise Rentals sees an increase in earnings.

Class Action Could Benefit All Employees Affected by Enterprise Layoffs

Benson is seeking to represent the class of former Enterprise employees who experienced the same as she did – termination without notice or cause.

The suit seeks to recover an amount equal to the sum of each class member’s wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, and accrued pay for vacation and personal days for work days in the 60 calendar days prior to when the terminations began. The lawsuit is also seeking fringe benefits and medical expenses incurred for 60 calendar days prior to termination.

If you were terminated during the last two to three months without warning from your employer, you might be entitled to compensation. Employers were extended relief from the federal government and were encouraged to accept the relief to help cover payroll expenses during this challenging time. Employers that failed to apply for benefits and ultimately terminated positions in their companies did a disservice to their employees.

For more information or to speak to someone about your situation, contact Heavens Law at 888.897.5377 to schedule a free consultation.