Former Spirit Airlines Employees Sue Over Layoffs Without Notice

Former Spirit Airlines employees filed a class-action lawsuit this week alleging the carrier laid them off without the advance notice required under federal law. Spirit Airlines shut down operations on May 2, leaving about 17,000 employees without jobs.

It was filed in bankruptcy court after the company sought Chapter 11 protection. The suit seeks 60 days of unpaid wages as a penalty for the lack of notice. It also requests compensation for benefits and other unpaid amounts that former employees say they are owed.

“We’re suing for, first of all, 60 days of unpaid wages, which is essentially a penalty for failing to provide notice prior to the closure of the company under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act of 1988,” attorney Eric Lechtzin said. Lechtzin said the lawsuit also seeks 60 days of continued employee benefits, including medical coverage and retirement contributions, plus recovery of unused vacation and sick time.

Many former workers are now scrambling to find new employment while trying to maintain healthcare coverage. Lechtzin said some have chronic medical conditions or family members with such conditions and do not know how they will pay for care. Unemployment benefits replace only a fraction of previous earnings, adding to the financial pressure.

Some employees have still not received final paychecks, and the lawsuit could expand if that issue remains unresolved. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Background on the Shutdown Spirit Airlines ceased all flight operations on May 2 after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The abrupt closure affected the airline’s entire workforce of approximately 17,000 people. The WARN Act generally requires covered employers to provide 60 days’ notice before a plant closing or mass layoff.

The lawsuit asserts that Spirit did not meet this requirement.