Hormel Foods is facing a class action lawsuit from over 1,600 meatpacking workers who allege the company violated Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law. The union claims Hormel forced employees to use vacation days instead of providing the legally required paid sick leave for more than a year. A labor arbitrator had already ruled this practice unlawful, but the company only began complying in March 2025. Workers are now seeking compensation for the paid leave they were denied.
See "Meatpacking workers allege Hormel Foods violated sick leave law in class action lawsuit", Max Nesterak, Minnesota Reformer, July 30, 2025