Are these lawsuits isolated incidents — or signs of a broader pattern?

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
This page summarizes allegations made in publicly filed lawsuits. These are claims alleged by plaintiffs and do not establish liability, wrongdoing, or admission by The Hershey Company unless proven in court, adjudicated by a judge or jury, or resolved through admitted settlement. Case outcomes, facts, and procedural status vary. This information is compiled from public court records and news sources.
OVERVIEW
Public court records show that The Hershey Company and related Hershey-branded entities have been involved in multiple employment-related legal matters over the past two decades. These cases include allegations of:
• Failure to accommodate disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Disability discrimination and retaliation
• Race discrimination
• Religious discrimination
• Hostile work environment
• Wage and hour violations
• Workplace injury reporting failures
SELECTED PUBLIC LAWSUITS INVOLVING HERSHEY ENTITIES
Disclaimer: This list summarizes allegations in publicly filed matters; outcomes and facts vary by case and venue.
1. EEOC v. The Hershey Company
Case No. 2:17-cv-01092-RSL (W.D. Wash.)
Year: 2017
Allegations:
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued Hershey for allegedly refusing to adjust work breaks for a retail sales merchandiser with a back impairment. The employee requested to split her breaks into smaller portions to accommodate her lifting restrictions. Hershey allegedly denied her request and subsequently terminated her employment.
Status: EEOC enforcement action; likely settled
Legal Claims: ADA failure to accommodate, retaliation
2. Turner v. Hershey Chocolate USA
Case No. 04-4674 (3d Cir.)
440 F.3d 604 (2006)
Allegations:
A former factory employee sued for disability discrimination, claiming the company failed to accommodate her medical restrictions related to repetitive stress injuries.
Status: Appellate decision issued 2006
Legal Claims: ADA-related disability discrimination
3. Turner v. The Hershey Company
Case No. 4:12-cv-03365 (S.D. Tex.)
Year: 2012
Allegations:
An African-American sales representative alleged her manager targeted Black workers for termination and directed them to falsify time data to justify firing them.
Status: Ordered to mediation
Legal Claims: Race discrimination
4. Williams v. The Hershey Company
Case No. 1:20-cv-09394-KMW-MJS (D.N.J.)
Year: 2020
Allegations:
Employee alleged hostile work environment and retaliation under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD).
Status: Filed 2020; outcome unknown
Legal Claims: Hostile work environment, retaliation
5. Doaks v. Hershey Creamery Co.
Year: 2022
Allegations:
A factory worker alleged he was denied "light duty" work restrictions after a shoulder injury. Instead of accommodating his restrictions, he was forced to take medical leave and was subsequently terminated.
Status: Filed 2022; outcome unknown
Legal Claims: ADA failure to accommodate, wrongful termination
6. Hollifield v. The Hershey Company
Case No. 3:23-cv-00473 (S.D. Ill.)
Year: 2023
Allegations:
Class action lawsuit alleging wage and hour violations. Workers claimed they were required to change into uniforms, boots, and hairnets off the clock (donning and doffing), resulting in unpaid overtime.
Status: Filed 2023; ongoing
Legal Claims: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations, wage theft
7. Sellers v. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co.
Case No. 1:25-cv-01979-KMN (M.D. Pa.)
Year: 2025
Allegations:
A spa employee at a Hershey-owned resort sued after being suspended for refusing to escort a transgender guest to a locker room, citing religious objections.
Status: Filed late 2025; ongoing
Legal Claims: Title VII religious accommodation, retaliation
8. Rakestraw v. The Hershey Company
Case No. 2:25-cv-02682-JWB-TJJ (D. Kan.)
Year: 2025
Allegations:
Laborer at Edgerton, Kansas facility alleges:
• Supervisor refused to provide required anti-fatigue safety mats despite company policy
• Workplace injury misclassified as pre-existing condition (neuropathy) to avoid OSHA reporting
• Denied medical treatment for 421 days after injury report
• Retaliation for requesting safety accommodations
• Wrongful termination following injury
Status: Filed 2025; ongoing litigation
Legal Claims: ADA disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, retaliation, wrongful termination, workplace safety violations
PATTERN ANALYSIS
Repeated Allegations Across Multiple Cases:
Disability Accommodation Failures (2006, 2017, 2022, 2025):
Multiple cases allege Hershey refused to provide reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities, followed by termination or forced resignation.
Injury-Related Retaliation (2022, 2025):
Workers injured on the job allegedly faced denial of light duty work, denial of medical treatment, or termination rather than accommodation.
Wage and Hour Practices (2023):
Class action alleges systematic unpaid time for mandatory safety procedures across multiple facilities.
Protected Class Discrimination (2012, 2020, 2025):
Cases allege discrimination based on race, religion, and disability across different facilities and time periods.
TIMELINE OF LAWSUITS
2006 — Turner (disability)
2012 — Turner (race discrimination)
2017 — EEOC lawsuit (disability accommodation)
2020 — Williams (hostile environment)
2022 — Doaks (injury accommodation)
2023 — Hollifield (wage violations)
2025 — Sellers (religious accommodation)
2025 — Rakestraw (disability, injury misclassification)
20-year pattern of similar employment-related allegations
WHAT THIS PATTERN MAY INDICATE
For Legal Analysis:
Corporate Knowledge: Multiple lawsuits over 20 years suggest Hershey has been repeatedly notified of similar conduct through litigation.
Systematic vs. Isolated: Pattern across multiple facilities, supervisors, and years may indicate systematic issues rather than isolated incidents.
Punitive Damages Consideration: Repeated similar violations despite prior litigation may support punitive damages arguments in ongoing cases.
EEOC Enforcement: Federal enforcement action (2017 EEOC lawsuit) indicates conduct serious enough for government intervention.
IMPORTANT CONTEXT
These lawsuits represent allegations only. The Hershey Company has not admitted liability in these matters unless specifically noted in settlement agreements or court judgments.
Settlement does not equal admission of guilt. Many employment lawsuits settle for business reasons without admission of wrongdoing.
Different facts, different outcomes. Each case involves unique circumstances, evidence, and legal standards.
Public information only. This page relies solely on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal databases. No confidential or sealed information is included.
SOURCES
Court records available through:
• PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records)
• Cornell Legal Information Institute
• Justia
• News reports from WGAL, HR Dive, Daily Voice, National Law Review
Case numbers and citations provided for independent verification.
LAST UPDATED: February 2026
For more information about workplace rights:
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): eeoc.gov
• Department of Labor: dol.gov
• Occupational Safety and Health   Administration (OSHA): osha.gov