The operator of a Penn Hills assisted living facility for people with mental disabilities has paid more than $1 million in back wages to settle violations of federal labor law.

Kelley Oliver-Hollis, part owner and operator of SerenityCare LLC, paid $1.05 million in back wages to 47 employees while her East Hills-based for-profit company paid a civil penalty of $44,741 for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The charges were filed by the U.S. Department of Labor in July.

SerenityCare operates a 57-bed training facility on Dollman Road in Penn Hills and six homes where care is provided to people, including some with mental disabilities. Licenses for the six homes were awaiting renewal, according to the state Department of Human Resources.

Ms. Oliver-Hollis was unavailable for comment Friday.

A Wage and Hour investigation found that Ms. Oliver-Hollis and her company had deducted advanced leave for the final paychecks for two employees, paid employees for scheduled hours rather than actual hours worked and coerced some employees to become independent contractors to avoid having to pay them overtime.

“Federal law requires employers to comply with all federal employee protections, including proper classification and payment of all legally earned wages,” Wage and Hour Division Director John DuMont said in a prepared statement. “Workers also have the right to participate in investigations without fear of retaliation.

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