US Department of Labor recovers more than $33K in back wages for 22 workers at Florida home healthcare service

CRYSTAL RIVER, FL – Few would argue with the fact that home healthcare nurses – who serve the needs of our communities and their most vulnerable – deserve all the wages they legally earn. When employers fail to pay workers like these correctly, the U.S. Department of Labor responds.

Following an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division, Florida Caregivers Inc. – a Crystal River business – has paid $33,626 in back wages to 22 workers to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The division found the employer misclassified caregivers as independent contractors rather than employees. As a result, Florida Caregivers failed to pay overtime when these employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek.

“These essential workers deserve to take home every penny of their hard-earned wages,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nicolas Ratmiroff in Tampa, Florida. “Employers who arbitrarily decide to treat employees as independent contractors hurt not only the affected workers, but also other employers who pay their employees as the law requires. We remain committed to ensuring essential protections for workers, and to providing clear, confidential compliance assistance to any worker or employer with questions.”

Employees of Florida Caregivers Inc. provide 24-hour nursing care, or assistance with daily living needs including bathing and grooming, medication reminders, housekeeping, as well as transportation to doctors’ appointments and errands.

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the division, contact the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.