News Brief
Department of Labor recovers $195K in back wages, damages for 22 home care workers denied full wages by Auburn employer
Employer: JG Adult Family Home LLC
1922 28 St. SE
Auburn, WA 98002
Investigation findings: A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found the owners of two Auburn adult care homes did not pay 22 caregivers overtime rates for hours over 40 in a workweek, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employer instead paid a daily rate regardless of how many hours employees worked. Investigators also found the employer denied some employees the required federal minimum wage.
Back Wages recovered: $97,980 in overtime and minimum wages
$97,980 in liquidated damages
Penalties assessed: $5,831 in civil money penalties for the willful nature of the violations.
Quote: “Workers in adult family homes provide care to some of our communities’ most vulnerable people,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Thomas Silva in Seattle. “JG Adult Family Home ignored federal laws that protect workers’ wages and benefits. This employer deliberately made it harder for their employees to care for themselves and their families.”
Background: In fiscal year 2023, the division recovered more than $31.8 million in back wages for workers in the healthcare industry nationwide. Learn about wage protections for care workers.
Workers can use the division’s Workers Owed Wages search tool to see if they are owed back wages collected by the division. Employers and workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division for assistance at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including the agency’s restaurants compliance assistance toolkit and an overview about the FLSA protections for restaurant workers. Workers and employers alike can help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and iOS Timesheet App for free in English or Spanish.
