Massachusetts AG Secures $865K Settlement from Online Grocer Weee!

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has reached a settlement with online grocery service Weee! for more than $865,000, after an investigation found the company to be in violation of Massachusetts employment laws. According to the official report, Weee!, which prides itself on being “America’s Largest Online Asian Supermarket,” misclassified delivery drivers as independent contractors, stripping them of necessary worker protections, including access to earned sick time.

The findings by the Attorney General’s Office revealed that such misclassification prevented these drivers from obtaining protections related to minimum wage, overtime, and other benefits due to employees under state law. In statements obtained by the press, AG Campbell expressed her commitment to enforcing laws that “protect and empower workers,” indicating a broad measure to remind employers about the gravity of workers’ rights in Massachusetts.

Parallel to its misclassification, Weee! failed to provide their workers with paystubs or to allow them to earn and use sick time — a right assured by Massachusetts’ Earned Sick Time Law. This law mandates up to 40 hours of job-protected sick time per year for workers, and requires employers to make their sick time policy known to employees. As part of the settlement, Weee! will be reclassifying its delivery drivers as employees and pledging to follow relevant state laws from here on out.

Restitution will make its way to over 160 affected delivery drivers, with checks expected to be mailed in late fall of 2025 as reported by the AG’s Office. Yusin Mok, Lead Organizer at the Chinese Progressive Association, told the press the importance of the Massachusetts ABC test and lauded the results of the AG’s work: “Many workers weren’t even aware their rights were being violated. We commend Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and her team for seeking justice and ensuring workers are fairly compensated.”

The case, steered by Assistant Attorney General Tallulah Knopp, Assistant Attorney General Erin Staab, and Investigator Lili Wu, is just one facet of a broader mission to defend the rights of all workers in the state — notably including those within immigrant communities who are often disproportionately affected by illicit employment practices. The AG’s Advisory on the Rights of Immigrant Workers reinforces the notion that all workers, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to full employment protections.

For workers who suspect an infringement on their workplace rights, or employers seeking to get in line with state employment laws, the AG’s Fair Labor Division offers resources and assistance. Concerned parties can file complaints, learn their rights, and access multilingual services through the AGO’s channels, including sending inquiries to fldsettlement@mass.gov concerning the Weee! settlement or calling the Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 for additional support.