Guzman y Gomez faces class action from US workers over closed stores

A class action lawsuit was filed in federal court in Illinois by workers from Guzman y Gomez’s shuttered US locations. The claim alleges employees were terminated without adequate pay or advance notice when the company decided to exit the US market. Workers say they learned of the closures on 21 May through an internal company message stating that all restaurants would close immediately. The lawsuit alleges federal and state laws required 60 days’ advance written notice before a mass layoff. It seeks pay and benefits for up to 60 days for each affected employee, estimated to exceed 500, and requests a jury trial. Guzman y Gomez was contacted for comment.

"After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to exit the US market. This means we will be closing all our restaurants from today."

"The class action claims that GyG was required under federal and state laws to provide 60 days' advance written notice before conducting a mass layoff. It is seeking pay and benefits for up to 60 days for every affected employee estimated by the law firm to number more than 500 and is seeking a trial by jury."

"Workers say they first heard about the imminent closures on 21 May via an internal message posted on the company's message platform, according to the lawsuit filed by Chicago firm Haseeb Legal. The message allegedly read: After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to exit the US market. This means we will be closing all our restaurants from today."

"Last week, GyG listed eight stores in its US network, all of which were located in the wider Chicago area. Its US website now reads: All GyG USA restaurants permanently closed."

Read at www.theguardian.com