By: Richard L. Smith
According to a statement released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the state has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of illegally misclassifying its Flex delivery drivers as independent contractors.
The complaint, filed in Essex County Superior Court, claims Amazon deprived thousands of New Jersey drivers of wages, overtime pay, sick leave, and other benefits required by law.
Officials also allege the company failed to contribute to the state’s unemployment and disability funds, shifting those costs onto taxpayers while saving millions for itself.
Flex drivers, who use their own cars to deliver packages, are required to follow Amazon’s routes, schedules, and strict performance rules, prosecutors said.
Despite the company’s pitch of “flexibility,” the Attorney General argues that the level of control Amazon exerts makes these workers employees under state law, not contractors.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin criticized the trillion-dollar company, saying Amazon has “enriched its bottom line by failing to obey our labor laws.”
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo added that the misclassification “is illegal, plain and simple” and harms both workers and the state.
The lawsuit seeks back pay, penalties, and enforcement costs, while demanding that Amazon properly classify its New Jersey Flex drivers moving forward.