An Indiana employer had to pay more than $154,000 in back wages to workers with disabilities at a Jeffersonville, Ind., non-profit industrial work center.
An investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor found that New Hope Services, a non-profit industrial work center that hires workers with disabilities, failed to ensure workers with disabilities received essential job and career training, a Feb. 10 Department of Labor news release said.
“Employers who qualify for the sub-minimum wage program have a moral and legal obligation to provide the career and skills training to qualified workers as required,” Patricia Lewis, Wage and Hour district director in Indianapolis, said.
By failing to provide that training, the employer was not allowed to pay sub-minimum wages and should have paid the workers the full federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, the release said. The investigation reportedly recovered $154,443 in minimum wages for 74 workers.
"Employees in New Hope Services’ vocational training program are paid a pro-rated minimum wage based upon the number of pieces or tasks completed within a specific timeframe," the release stated. The program teaches skills like following direction, staying on task and appropriate socialization.
“Encouraging employment of adults of all abilities has a positive impact on the lives of these workers and our nation’s economy, but it must be done legally,” Lewis said.
