A UPS lawsuit is now front and center after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a sweeping case accusing the company of cheating thousands of seasonal workers out of millions in pay. The lawsuit claims UPS relied on off-the-clock work and faulty timekeeping during peak holiday seasons. State officials say the practices went on for years and were built into company operations .
What the UPS lawsuit alleges
According to the complaint, UPS systematically underpaid seasonal delivery workers across New York between October and January each year. These workers included Driver Helpers and Seasonal Support Drivers who helped handle holiday delivery demand.
The Attorney General alleges UPS:
- Failed to record all hours worked
- Required off-the-clock labor before and after shifts
- Automatically deducted meal breaks that were not taken
- Edited time records to reduce paid hours
State investigators say these actions deprived workers of millions in earned wages.
How seasonal workers say they were shorted
Seasonal workers told investigators they often reported to job sites on time but waited unpaid for drivers or packages to arrive. Some waited hours without clocking in. Others were sent home without ever being paid.
The lawsuit details unpaid work that included:
- Waiting at facilities or roadside meet-up points
- Traveling between assignments
- Watching mandatory training videos
- Returning undelivered packages and equipment
Many workers logged more than 40 hours per week but did not receive overtime pay required by law.
Timekeeping practices at the center of the case
Investigators say UPS used timekeeping systems that favored undercounting hours. In many cases, workers were not allowed to clock in until scanning or delivering their first package.
The lawsuit also alleges UPS:
- Paid workers based on scheduled start times or clock-in times, whichever was later
- Automatically deducted 30-minute meal breaks
- Required workers to clock out before completing assignments
State officials argue these practices ensured early and late work went unpaid.
Why the state says this was not accidental
The Attorney General’s office concluded the violations were not isolated mistakes. The complaint says the practices were repeated, persistent, and embedded across more than 50 UPS facilities statewide.
UPS employs thousands of seasonal workers each year in New York. Investigators say the company’s size and logistics expertise make the alleged failures especially troubling.
What the lawsuit is asking the court to do
The state is seeking:
- Restitution for current and former seasonal workers
- Financial penalties and damages
- An order forcing UPS to end off-the-clock work
- Reforms to timekeeping and payroll practices
The lawsuit also alleges violations of both New York Labor Law and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
What happens next
UPS will have the opportunity to respond in court. If the state prevails, the case could lead to major changes in how large employers handle seasonal labor and timekeeping during peak demand periods.
The lawsuit is still in its early stages, but it already puts renewed focus on wage theft claims involving temporary and seasonal workers.
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.