Lawsuit: Casey's exploits employees with tobacco-use surcharge

[Omaha Steve]

This convenience store on West Des Moines’ Grand Avenue is part of the Casey’s General Store chain, which is being sued over the tobacco-use surcharge imposed on employees. (Main photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch. Inset photo of company policy is from U.S. District Court records)

By: Clark Kauffman - March 31, 2025 2:19 pm

Casey’s General Store is being sued for allegedly exploiting its workers through the discriminatory practice of imposing a tobacco-use surcharge for health insurance coverage.

The surcharge, which is alleged to be $35 per pay period, amounts to an illegal “cash grab” by Casey’s that is masquerading as a wellness program, the lawsuit claims.

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, the lawsuit seeks class-action status but is currently filed on behalf of one Casey’s employee, Elizabeth Blalock of Carroll County, Missouri.

Attorneys for Blalock allege that all Casey’s workers are automatically assumed to use tobacco unless they submit to a process in which they provide a sworn affidavit stating they do not. Any worker who fails to complete that process by a specified deadline is then required to pay “tobacco surcharge” for the entire calendar year, even if they do not use tobacco, the lawsuit claims.

FULL story: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/31/lawsuit-caseys-exploits-employees-with-tobacco-use-surcharge/

[UpInArms]

1. I despise Casey's

they are a parasite on our community… they are shit employers and they take all the profits from the community… I always go to an independently owned convenience store … better everything