Department of Labor’s investigation uncovers violations in overtime compensation and travel expenses for home care.
Judge Chad Kenney of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ordered a home care agency in Philadelphia to pay over $7 million in back wages and damages to 1,230 current and former employees. The Department of Labor found that the employer knowingly violated overtime payment regulations by not including employees’ work-related travel time in their wage calculations.
The home care agency was found to owe $3,538,360 in back wages and an equal amount in damages to the affected workers.
“The court’s judgment affirms the Department of Labor’s position that home care employers must pay employees for travel time…This case serves as a stark reminder to other homecare employers that the consequences for shortchanging employees can be costly both to the company’s bottom line and to its industry reputation,” explained Deputy Regional Solicitor Samantha Thomas.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Labor Department officials as they carry out investigations of employers taking advantage of staff.
- For Acting Secretary Julie Su as she awaits a Senate vote on her nomination as head of the Department of Labor.
Sources: Department of Labor
