NEW: Supervisors threatened to fire candle factory workers if they left hours before deadly tornado leveled their facility, employees say. nbcnews.to/31SRk8h
As a catastrophic tornado approached Mayfield, Kentucky, employees of a candle factory heard the warning sirens and wanted to leave the building.
But at least four workers say supervisors warned employees that they would be fired if they left their shifts early.
But at least four workers say supervisors warned employees that they would be fired if they left their shifts early.
For hours, up to 15 workers beseeched managers to allow them to take shelter at their own homes, only to have their requests rebuffed, the workers say.
Fearing their safety, some in fact left during their shifts regardless of the repercussions.
Fearing their safety, some in fact left during their shifts regardless of the repercussions.
Speaking from her hospital bed, an employee says workers first asked to leave shortly after tornado sirens sounded outside the candle factory around 5:30 p.m.
Employees congregated in bathrooms and inside hallways, but the real tornado would not arrive for several more hours.
After employees decided the immediate danger had passed, several began asking to go home, the workers says.
After employees decided the immediate danger had passed, several began asking to go home, the workers says.
“People had questioned if they could leave or go home,” says the hospitalized employee, who preferred to stay at work and make extra money.
Overtime pay was available to workers but it wasn’t clear if those who stayed were offered additional pay.
Overtime pay was available to workers but it wasn’t clear if those who stayed were offered additional pay.
Supervisors told employees that leaving would probably jeopardize their job, the employees say.
“If you leave, you’re more than likely to be fired,” the hospitalized employee overheard managers tell four workers standing near her. “I heard that with my own ears.”
“If you leave, you’re more than likely to be fired,” the hospitalized employee overheard managers tell four workers standing near her. “I heard that with my own ears.”
Once a second siren sounded after 9 p.m., another employee and a group of others approached three managers to go home.
“‘You can’t leave, you can’t leave, you have to stay here,’” she says she was told. “The situation was bad. Everyone was uncomfortable.”
nbcnews.to/31SRk8h
“‘You can’t leave, you can’t leave, you have to stay here,’” she says she was told. “The situation was bad. Everyone was uncomfortable.”
nbcnews.to/31SRk8h
A forklift operator says he preferred to leave, but wasn’t given the option.
“That’s the thing. We should have been able to leave ... The first warning came and they just had us go in the hallway. After the warning, they had us go back to work. They never offered us to go home.”
“That’s the thing. We should have been able to leave ... The first warning came and they just had us go in the hallway. After the warning, they had us go back to work. They never offered us to go home.”
A spokesperson for Mayfield Consumer Products denied that managers told employees that leaving their shifts meant risking their jobs.
He says managers and team leaders undergo a series of emergency drills that follow federal guidelines: "Protocols are in place and were followed"
He says managers and team leaders undergo a series of emergency drills that follow federal guidelines: "Protocols are in place and were followed"
At least 8 people died in the factory, which makes scented candles.
Kentucky Gov. Beshear said Monday that 74 people in the state were confirmed dead after the tornadoes hit the region.
More on this story: nbcnews.to/31SRk8h
Kentucky Gov. Beshear said Monday that 74 people in the state were confirmed dead after the tornadoes hit the region.
More on this story: nbcnews.to/31SRk8h
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