DOL Recovers $158K in Back Pay, Damages for 78 LA Home Health Care Workers Denied Overtime

LOUISIANA—The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found Amazing Grace PCA, a home health care provider, misclassified 77 workers as independent contractors which denied them of overtime wages for hours over 40 in a workweek. The employer also failed to pay one worker for all hours worked which led to a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage provisions.

“Misclassification of employees as independent contractors is a serious issue that denies many workers of their full and rightfully earned wages,” said Wage and Hour District Director Troy Mouton in New Orleans. “Healthcare workers are among our nation’s most essential workers and their employers cannot shortchange them for their hard work. The Wage and Hour Division remains committed to battling misclassification and will hold employers who misclassify their workers accountable for back wages and liquidated damages.”

$79,362 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages were recovered.