Medics who came from other states to help New York as the coronavirus ravaged the city in March found themselves under constant GPS surveillance by the company they worked for and even had their sex lives restricted by their employer, according to a class action lawsuit filed in Brooklyn.
The EMTs and paramedics working for Ambulnz, which contracts with FEMA to provide ambulance services, had their lives entirely policed by the Big Brother-style firm, the lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Civil Court alleges.
In addition to exercising total control of the movements and whereabouts of Plaintiff and similarly-situated EMTs and paramedics, Ambulnz further controlled their activities, including by prohibiting them from consuming alcohol or engaging in any sexual activity while at their hotel, in order to remain “on call’ for any emergencies, ” the lawsuit states.
James Richard, the lead plaintiff in the case, worked 12-hour, seven-day shifts for Ambulnz and claims he was promised he’d be paid on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis by the company since the job required him to be on call at all hours. The Tennessee resident’s lawsuit says Ambulnz did not make good on the offer.
Ambulnz promised EMTs and paramedics 24/7 pay only to renege on that once people were deployed to New York City, ” said Sally Abrahamson, who represents Richard in the case.
They did not make, nor did they expect to make, an exorbitant amount of money. But, they put their lives on the line and deserve to be paid what they were promised and what the law requires. ”
After shifts, Richard claims EMTs were not allowed to make their own travel arrangements to get back to the hotel from work sites, but were forced to wait for shuttles for the company or FEMA to transport them, the lawsuit says.
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