The facility repeatedly denied 853 healthcare workers overtime during COVID-19.
The Department of Labor reached a settlement with Kent County Memorial Hospital, requiring the hospital to pay $1.9 million in back wages and liquidated damages to 853 healthcare workers.
Kent County Hospital is the second largest hospital in Rhode Island and, during the pandemic, it regularly withheld overtime pay from its employees. It also deducted 30-minute breaks from workers’ hours, even though staffers were rarely allowed to take those breaks during that time.
“The Wage and Hour Division is eager to return the $1.9 million in wages and liquidated damages we recovered to the workers who put their needs second and delivered essential care to the many people in Rhode Island who suffered during the pandemic,” said Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman. “An administrative resolution like this allows affected workers to collect their hard-earned wages promptly.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Administrator Looman to be led by God as she oversees the Wage and Hour Division.
- For U.S. labor officials to receive the Lord’s wisdom as they advocate for American workers.
Sources: Department of Labor
