A gripping legal battle unfolds as four former employees take a stand against their previous employer, alleging severe breaches of employment contracts and violations of federal labor laws. The complaint was filed by Gregory Packer, Tracy Taylor, Jennifer O’Neal, and Andre Smith in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 6, 2025. The defendants named in this case are Diversify, LLC; Diversify Workforce Inc.; and Demetrius Mobley.
The plaintiffs allege that they were employed under specific contractual agreements with Diversify, LLC but were never compensated for their work. Tracy Taylor, who served as Senior Vice President for Strategy and Communications at an annual salary of $290,000, claims he received no payment from March to May 2024. Similarly, Gregory Packer was appointed Vice President of Operations and Finance with a salary of $280,000 but worked without pay from March to August 2024. Jennifer O’Neal and Andre Smith also recount similar experiences of non-payment during their tenure as Operational Excellence Manager and Personal Logistics Manager respectively.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to pay minimum wage or overtime premiums despite employees working over forty hours weekly. Plaintiffs argue that these actions not only breach federal labor laws but also violate the terms outlined in their employment contracts. Furthermore, they claim that Diversify Workforce Inc., formed shortly after their employment began, is a successor entity designed to continue operations without fulfilling past obligations.
Plaintiffs seek monetary damages for unpaid wages along with liquidated damages due to the lack of good faith compliance by the defendants. They also demand severance pay as stipulated in their contracts unless terminated for cause. Legal representation is provided by Bryan M. Kaemmerer from McCarthy Leonard Kaemmerer L.C., while the case awaits judgment under Case ID: 1:25-cv-00105.