A U.S. Department of Labor investigation recovered more than $1 million in back pay and liquidated damages from the part-owner and operator of an assisted living facility in the Pittsburgh area.
Wage and Hour Division investigators found pay practices denied 47 workers their legitimately earned wages, according to an Oct. 27 news release.
“Workers also have the right to participate in investigations without fear of retaliation,” Wage and Hour District Director in Pittsburgh John DuMont said, according to the release.
Regional Solicitor of Labor Oscar L. Hampton III in Philadelphia said the back wages and damages owed to the workers were quickly recovered through the Department of Labor’s litigation. A consent agreement through the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania ordered Kelley Oliver-Hollis and Serenitycare LLC from any other violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the release reported.
The employer was ordered to pay a $44,741 civil penalty for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the release said. These violations included misclassifying employees as independent contractors, deducting advanced leave from paychecks, paying employees for scheduled shift hours and not actual hours worked and coercing some employees to become independent contractors to avoid paying overtime.
Employers are required by federal law to properly classify all employees, and pay them all legally earned wages, DuMont said, according to the release.
