Following investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois Office of the Attorney General, Greenridge Farms Inc. located in Elk Grove, IL. has entered into a consent agreement authorized by the Cook County Circuit Court, effective December 20th. Greenridge Farms processes meat and poultry for delicatessens including smoked chicken and sausages and meat sticks.
The investigation centered on overtime wages that were withheld from workers over the period 2013-2022. In accordance with the consent decree, Greenridge will pay $3 million in installments through 2025. Based on federal law, employees are eligible to recover 2.5 times owed wages.
This case is yet another in a series investigated by the Department of Labor in an aggressive program leading to penalties and mandated back pay for workers subjected to evident and concerted wage theft.