US Department of Labor recovers more than $140K in back wages, damages for 118 home healthcare workers employed by two Louisiana companies 

NEW ORLEANS – Among the nation’s lowest paid workers, home healthcare employees are asked to work long hours routinely to provide help to people in need. Too often, these workers are shortchanged by employers’ unfair pay practices as was the case for 118 employees of two North Louisiana home healthcare providers, Twin City Home Care Services in Monroe and Divine Services LLC in Minden. 

Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Twin City Home Care Services and Divine Services paid affected employees straight-time rates for all hours worked, including for hours over 40 in a workweek when an overtime rate applies.

The division recovered $84,586 in back wages and liquidated damages for 98 employees of Twin City Home Care Services, and $56,067 in back wages and liquidated damages for 20 employees of Divine Services.

“Employees eligible for overtime pay must receive time and one-half their regular rate when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Troy Mouton in New Orleans. “Employers must calculate the hours worked and regular rate correctly to ensure that workers are properly compensated. Employers with questions about how to make these determinations should contact the Wage and Hour Division for free assistance to help them avoid costly consequences.” 

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. The division protects workers regardless of where they are from and can communicate with workers and employers confidentially in more than 200 languages at 1-866-4-US-WAGE (487-9243).

Download the agency’s new Timesheet App, which is available in English and Spanish for Android and Apple devices, to ensure hours and pay are accurate.