{"id":552,"date":"2026-05-13T22:35:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=552"},"modified":"2026-05-13T22:35:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:35:17","slug":"ex-spirit-workers-sue-saying-airline-failed-to-give-proper-layoff-notices-owes-back-pay-and-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=552","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Spirit workers sue, saying airline failed to give proper layoff notices, owes back pay and benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Spirit Airlines\u2019 abrupt shutdown this month was too abrupt under the law, a group of terminated employees allege in a proposed class-action lawsuit.<\/p>\n

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Their complaint, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, asserts that management misled its workforce about its prospects for staying in business and still owes employees back pay and benefits after going out of business.<\/p>\n

The workers are six laid-off Spirit employees who seek to represent a class of approximately 17,000 people who were terminated when the airline ceased flying in the early morning hours of May 2. The lack of advance notice violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, according to the complaint filed Tuesday.<\/p>\n

News of the airline\u2019s shutdown, the suit says, came from CEO David Davis in an email to employees stating the Dania Beach-based budget airline was immediately halting operations. Those left without jobs included more than 4,800 direct and indirect employees in South and Central Florida, according to a WARN notice the company belatedly filed with the state of Florida on May 4.<\/p>\n

The company shutdown announcement, the suit says, stated that employees would be paid \u201cfor hours worked through May 2, 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, to date, employees have not received their final paychecks, accrued vacation time, or unused sick time,\u201d the suit alleges.<\/p>\n

A Spirit spokesperson said the company does not comment on litigation.<\/p>\n

New York attorney Todd Duffy, who filed the suit late Tuesday on the employees\u2019 behalf, did not immediately respond to a voicemail seeking comment.<\/p>\n

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The lawsuit was brought on behalf of five Spirit former employees who live in Florida and one in South Carolina. They held positions including software engineer, DOT compliance specialist, flight attendant, senior maintenance planner, heavy maintenance project manager, and senior software engineer.<\/p>\n

All were terminated without cause and without prior notice, the suit says. The airline failed after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2025.<\/p>\n

The suit suggests the airline made various positive statements about its prospects amid media reports that its end was near.<\/p>\n

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