Additional Coverage:
- Flight attendants on Home Depot cofounder’s private jets say they were overworked and not paid overtime (newsbreak.com)
Flight Attendants Sue Home Depot Cofounder’s Family Office
Two flight attendants have filed a lawsuit against the family office of Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot. The plaintiffs, Adele Pearson and Samantha Carlisle, allege that they were overworked and not paid overtime.
Overtime Misclassification and Falsified Records
The lawsuit claims that Pearson and Carlisle were misclassified as exempt from overtime pay, despite working over 40 hours per week. They also allege that the family office “falsified time records” to show that they had eight days off per month.
Extensive Workload and Personal Errands
According to the lawsuit, the flight attendants were not only responsible for flights but also had to perform personal errands for Blank and his family, such as handling dry cleaning and choosing restaurants. Their workload was further increased due to the alleged incompetence of other coworkers.
Romantic Relationships and Inadequate Support
The lawsuit alleges that one flight attendant was in a romantic relationship with Blank and provided limited support, while the flight operations coordinator was in a romantic relationship with the director of aviation and struggled to perform basic tasks.
Legal Action and Damages Sought
The plaintiffs are seeking unpaid overtime, liquidated damages, and legal costs. A spokesperson for the family office declined to comment, citing company policy not to do so during litigation.