Workers at a HelloFresh distribution center in Newark, New Jersey, have alleged in a civil lawsuit that they faced verbal and physical abuse, discrimination, and were denied regular bathroom breaks while employed at the facility. The amended complaint, part of a class action suit initially filed in August 2024, claims these abuses primarily targeted Hispanic temporary workers. A New Jersey state court judge is set to review the amended complaint during a hearing scheduled for October 23, 2026.
The lawsuit asserts that HelloFresh and associated staffing agencies—Action Staffing, On Target Staffing, and ProStaff Workforce Solutions—engaged in discriminatory practices that violated New Jersey’s anti-discrimination laws. Plaintiffs claim supervisors confiscated identification badges from temporary workers, which were required to exit the premises, and repeatedly threatened to report workers to immigration authorities. The complaint details allegations of physical and verbal abuse, racist and sexist remarks, sexual harassment of Hispanic female employees, and the imposition of disproportionately difficult tasks on Hispanic workers.
Luis Penafiel, a former temporary employee at the Newark facility from November 2021 to August 2023, described worsening working conditions and alleged discrimination after his hiring. He said Hispanic workers were forced to perform the toughest duties and faced punishment for speaking Spanish. Penafiel also reported that employees were required to use a sign-out system for bathroom breaks, which were closely monitored by management. According to the complaint, Hispanic workers had to endure long waits to use the restroom, leading to health problems including incontinence and infections, while non-Hispanic employees were reportedly allowed unrestricted bathroom access.
The suit goes further, alleging that HelloFresh managers threatened Hispanic workers with a baseball bat to limit bathroom breaks and in some cases, workers were forced to urinate on themselves rather than leave their posts. The complaint also describes instances of sexual misconduct, including inappropriate physical contact with female employees, managers showing pornography, and coercive sexual propositions. Physical assaults allegedly involved supervisors beating workers, grabbing employees’ necks, and using intimidation tactics, all witnessed by other workers.
Plaintiffs claim that when injuries or complaints were reported, workers were bounced between HelloFresh and the staffing agencies with little resolution. Attorneys representing the workers argue that the lawsuit highlights systemic exploitation enabled by immigration enforcement policies that foster worker vulnerability.
HelloFresh has denied all allegations in the lawsuit. A company spokesperson said that after conducting an internal investigation into the claims, which span back to 2023 and earlier, the company found the accusations to be unfounded. HelloFresh also emphasized its commitment to workplace safety, anti-discrimination policies, mandatory training, and confidential reporting channels.
The staffing agencies have moved to dismiss the lawsuit, with some alleging workers falsified immigration documents and none having raised prior complaints about conditions at the Newark facility. A portion of the claims relating to the New Jersey Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act was dismissed, though the plaintiffs were permitted to file an amended complaint with additional details.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Labor announced an ongoing investigation in December 2024 into a different HelloFresh facility in Illinois after allegations surfaced of migrant children working there. HelloFresh said it terminated its contract with the staffing agency involved once it was made aware of the situation.