A federal investigation has recovered $133,661 in back wages for 63 workers of a Dayton home healthcare provider who allegedly misclassified its employees as independent contractors, denied workers overtime pay and falsified payroll records to hide the violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined Reliable Home Health Care LLC and its owner Sheikuna Omar allegedly misclassified office staff and home health aides as independent contractors. The employer then allegedly paid workers straight time for hours over 40 in a workweek, a violation of federal law.
The division’s investigation disclosed the firm allegedly falsified their payroll records in an attempt to hide their violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
“Reliable Home Health Care workers provided around-the-clock, daily living assistance and delivered essential care to people in need, yet their employer denied workers their earned overtime wages and then falsified records to create an appearance of compliance with the law,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director Matthew Utley in Columbus, Ohio. “Misclassification of employees as independent contractors and overtime violations are all too common in the home healthcare industry.
“The U.S. Department of Labor will protect the rights of workers who commit themselves to the care of others and ensure they are paid all their legally earned wages so they, in turn, can take care of themselves and their families.”
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