What You Need to Know

• Employees of Mayfield Consumer Products candle company filed a lawsuit on Wednesday evening, claiming supervisors threatened employees with disciplinary action if they left work early ahead of approaching severe weather.
• The employer is accused of failing to maintain a workplace free of serious recognized hazards and following state safety regulations.
• Eight people have been confirmed dead at the factory.

Employees of a Mayfield, Kentucky, candle factory have filed a class action lawsuit against the company for allegedly requiring them to stay at work or face discipline, despite warnings that dangerous weather was approaching.

Elijah Johnson, 20, who was working the night shift for the factory when the tornado hit on Friday, filed the lawsuit late Wednesday against his employer on behalf of himself and other employees. Under state law, Kentucky employers must provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards—”including tornados”—and to comply with rules and regulations under state safety and health program, the complaint says.

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Read Full Story: https://www.law.com/2021/12/15/kentucky-candle-factory-employees-file-lawsuit...