Exploitation allegation | Home Depot founder Arthur Blank faces lawsuit by 'overworked' private plane staff

Two former private flight attendants who served in Home Depot co-founder Arthur M. Blank's family office have filed a lawsuit alleging severe workplace exploitation.

They claim they were overworked, underpaid, and forced to compensate for unqualified coworkers who were involved in romantic relationships with management.

The lawsuit, filed in an Atlanta district court by Adele Pearson and Samantha Carlisle, details alleged practices by the Arthur M. Blank Family Office (AMBFO) that reportedly led to exhausting work hours and compromised employee wellbeing. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and a prominent figure in Atlanta with stakes in the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, is at the center of the complaint.

Employment infringed on personal time

According to court documents, Pearson and Carlisle described grueling schedules, sometimes reaching 26 days of work per month, with total weekly hours around 90. Despite the long hours, they claim AMBFO still failed to pay overtime in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), stating that their positions legally qualified for overtime compensation. The plaintiffs allege AMBFO manipulated duty records to conceal their extended hours, further violating labor protections.