Class action lawsuit filed in Trulieve layoffs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - More than a week after Trulieve employees were reportedly let go at a facility in Gadsden County, a class action lawsuit was filed in federal court Wednesday, against the largest medical marijuana operator in the U.S.

A copy of the suit, provided to WCTV, alleges that Trulieve violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act of 1988, which requires employers to give at least 60 days’ advance notice of their terminations, under certain requirements.

The document claims a number of employees were terminated “without cause on or about November 29.”

WCTV has been working to get clarity from Trulieve about how many employees were impacted by the layoffs. The company declined to give a specific number citing regulatory reasons.

According to the class action lawsuit, the WARN Act applies if there is employment loss “at the single site of employment during any 30-day period for 50 or more employees excluding any part-time employees.”

The lawsuit seeks in part unpaid wages, holiday pay, bonuses and ERISA benefits for 60 working days “that would have been covered and paid under the then applicable employee benefit plans” along with attorneys’ fees.

We’re told the Gadsden County Board of Commissioners plans to discuss the layoffs at its meeting on December 20.

Counsel for Trulieve provided the following response to WCTV:

“Trulieve has complied with all State and Federal laws with regards to reductions in force. Where possible, Trulieve offered impacted employees new positions at the same site or at other sites in the area. Where transfers were not feasible or accepted, employees were offered severance packages.”

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