Bloomberg Campaign Reneges on Employment Promises to Staffers

Former campaign staffers recently filed multiple lawsuits against billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign for owed wages.  The staffers argue they were promised employment through the general election in November 2020 to challenge President Trump, independent of the success of Michael Bloomberg’s campaign for the Democratic nomination.  Despite such promises, the campaign laid off thousands of staffers after the former mayor’s dismal Super Tuesday performance and withdrawal from the presidential race. 

In their lawsuits, campaign staffers rely on public statements by the campaign in the days leading up to Super Tuesday, including claims that its “army” of staffers “will march on through the general election in November even if [Mayor Bloomberg] loses the Democratic nomination.”  Further, campaign staffers point to an internal campaign document instructing interviewers to inform applicants of “employment through November 2020 with Team Bloomberg” as proof that the campaign promised to employ its staffers through the general election.  

Whether courts find the campaign staffers’ argument persuasive remains to be seen.  Generally, workers are hired on an at-will basis and can be fired at any time, absent illegal discrimination or retaliation.  Workers who believe they were wrongfully terminated or subject to other workplace violations should seek legal counsel to analyze their potential legal claims.