ATTENTION TO ALL NON-EXEMPT, HOURLY EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED FOR ESSEX IN CALIFORNIA FROM MAY 19, 2011, TO APRIL 30, 2017:

You might have received a notice of class action settlement in the mail recently.  If you received this notice and follow the instructions contained in the notice, you may receive a settlement payment. 

The notice of class action settlement pertains to a pending class action lawsuit that was filed by two former employees of the Company.  The lawsuit alleges that Essex violated California wage and hour laws, such as failure to provide minimum or overtime wages and failure to provide meal and rest periods.  Essex has carefully reviewed its policies and practices and vehemently denies these allegations. 

Although the Court has not ruled on whether these allegations have any merit, Essex has made a business decision to settle this lawsuit.  Pursuant to a court order preliminarily approving the proposed settlement, a third-party settlement administrator has sent notice of the class action settlement to you based on the contact information that was available to the Company. 

Essex has always maintained a policy not to retaliate against any associate who complains or becomes involved in a lawsuit.  Similarly, Essex will not take action against any associate who chooses to participate in, decline to participate in, or object to the settlement. 

All of the information pertaining to the class action settlement can be found in the court-approved notice that was sent to you.  If you have any additional questions, please contact Brigitte Hurney, Director of Human Resources, at (949) 863-4239 or bhurney@essex.com.