PHILADELPHIA – Every day, seniors and people with disabilities rely on home health care workers for vital services. While the demand for these skilled employees is high, wages remain low. So when a Philadelphia home health care agency failed to pay millions in overtime wages to its workers, the impact hit more than 450 workers hard as they struggled to make ends meet.
A recent investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has recovered $2,125,429 in back wages for 456 workers employed by Good Family Support Services Inc., operator of Good Family Support Services, a non-profit organization in Philadelphia.
The division found that the employer paid family care workers on an hourly basis, but paid straight-time rates for overtime hours. Good Family Support Services also failed to record the number of hours that two employees worked, and failed to record hourly rates, violating Fair Labor Standards Act’s recordkeeping requirements.
“Home health care workers provide essential services and have remained on the front lines, taking care of our loved ones and keeping us moving forward,” said Senior Counselor to the Secretary M. Patricia Smith. “These employees deserve to be paid every cent they have earned.”
“This case demonstrates our commitment to protecting and respecting vulnerable workers, in home health care and all low-wage industries,” said Wage and Hour Division Principal Deputy Administrator Jessica Looman. “The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to protecting all workers’ wages and to ensuring a level-playing field for all employers.”
Good Family Support Services Inc. offers in-home care services and caregiver trainings.
For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Learn more about the division.
