Nearly 2,000 Ski Instructors File Claims Against Vail Resorts in Wage Lawsuit

Nearly 2,000 ski and snowboard instructors have filed claims in a class action lawsuit against Vail Resorts alleging unfair labor practices, according to the Vail Daily.

The lawsuit, originally filed in December 2020, claims the resort giant—which operates 42 properties including Park City Mountain in Utah—failed to properly compensate instructors for required job duties and work-related expenses.

Allegations of Unpaid Work

• The core of the lawsuit centers on what instructors characterize as off-the-clock work for which they were not compensated. Specific allegations include:

• Travel time: Instructors claim they were not paid for time spent traveling between different job sites at resorts during their workday.

• Equipment handling: The lawsuit alleges instructors were not compensated for time spent putting on and removing ski or snowboard equipment necessary for their work.

• Mandatory training: Instructors say they attended required training sessions without pay.

The lawsuit also claims instructors were not reimbursed for necessary expenses including ski equipment and work-related cell phone use—costs the instructors say are essential to performing their jobs.

Vail Resorts has steadfastly denied all allegations. In legal filings and public statements, the company maintains that it has strictly complied with all state and federal wage laws. The company asserts that its payroll systems are designed to ensure all employees are paid for every hour worked and that its compensation packages are in line with industry standards.

"Vail Resorts has denied the allegations, saying it has complied with wage laws and properly paid its employees."

Eligibility and Extended Deadlines

The "class" in this action is broad. Any instructor who was employed at any Vail-owned resort as of December 2, 2017, is eligible to join the suit.

While the formal deadline to file a claim was April 15, 2026, the legal landscape shifted this week. A recent judge’s order has indicated that the timeline could be extended, potentially allowing even more instructors to join the nearly 2,000 who have already signed on.

A Defining Moment for the Industry

The outcome of this case could set a massive precedent for the mountain resort industry. For decades, the "pre-and-post-shift" duties of ski instructors have existed in a legal gray area. If the court rules in favor of the instructors, it could force a fundamental shift in how resorts across the country calculate labor costs and manage their seasonal staff.